L10 ordered phase formation in FePt, FePd, CoPt, and CoPd alloy thin films epitaxially grown on MgO(001) single-crystal substrates

The FePt, FePd, CoPt, and CoPd epitaxial thin films are prepared on MgO(001) single-crystal substrates by ultrahigh vacuum RF magnetron sputtering. The effects of the magnetic material and the substrate temperature on the film growth, the film structure, and the magnetic properties are investigated. The L1(0) ordered phase formation is observed for FePt, FePd, and CoPt films prepared at temperatures higher than 200, 400, and 600 degrees C, respectively, whereas that is not recognized for CoPd films. The L1(0)-FePd(001) single-crystal films with the c-axis normal to the substrate surface are formed, whereas the FePt and CoPt epitaxial films include L1(0)(100) crystals whose c-axis is parallel to the substrate surface, in addition to the L1(0)(001) crystals. Upon increasing the substrate temperature, the ordering degree increases. A higher ordering parameter is observed in the order of FePd > FePt > CoPt. The magnetic properties are influenced by the crystal structure, the crystallographic orientation of the L1(0) crystal, and the ordering degree. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3672856]