Temperature dependence of GMR and effect of annealing on electrodeposited Co-Ag granular films

The magnetoresistance of Co-Ag granular films composed of superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic particles was studied at different temperatures. The increase in the GMR values while decreasing temperature down to 20 K was quantified. The non-saturating behaviour of the MR(II) curves was retained even at the lowest measurement temperature, which was mainly attributed to the dipolar interaction among the superparamagnetic particles. The influence of the annealing conditions on the magnetoresistance was also studied. In all conditions, a decrease in the GMR values was measured being attributed to an increase in the particle size. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.