Influence of composition on the structural-phase state, electrophysical and magnetotransport properties of alloy thin films based on Co and Cu

Abstract The influence of the composition of alloy thin films based on Co and Cu on their structural-phase state, electrophysical and magnetotransport properties is presented. The studies were performed for non-annealed and annealed (up to Tmax = 800 K) alloy thin films based on Co and Cu with a thickness of 40 nm, in a wide range of cobalt atomic fractions (0.20 ≤ x ≤ 0.75). For alloy thin films with x ≤ 0.42, thermal treatment in the temperature range from 300 to 800 K for 30 min caused an increase in the value of the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) and coercivity due to the increase in the size of the hcp-Co granules. The highest amplitude of GMR were found in alloys thin films with a total atomic fraction of Co at x = 0.32. The calculation of the thermal coefficient of resistance of alloys showed a qualitative agreement with experiment results for alloy thin films with a total atomic fraction Co x ≤ 0.32.