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Grain Boundary Diffusion in Co/Cu and Co/Cr Magnetic Thin Films

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 September 2012

John G. Holl-Pellerin ,
S.G.H. Anderson ,
P.S. Ho ,
K.R. Coffey ,
J.K. Howard  and
K. Barmak
John G. Holl-Pellerin
Affiliation:
Materials Laboratory for Interconnect and Packaging, University of Texas at Austin, BRC/MER Mail Code 78650, Austin, TX 78712–1100
S.G.H. Anderson
Affiliation:
Materials Laboratory for Interconnect and Packaging, University of Texas at Austin, BRC/MER Mail Code 78650, Austin, TX 78712–1100
P.S. Ho
Affiliation:
Materials Laboratory for Interconnect and Packaging, University of Texas at Austin, BRC/MER Mail Code 78650, Austin, TX 78712–1100
K.R. Coffey
Affiliation:
Materials Laboratory for Interconnect and Packaging, University of Texas at Austin, BRC/MER Mail Code 78650, Austin, TX 78712–1100
J.K. Howard
Affiliation:
IBM, ADSTAR Division, 5600 Cottle Rd, 808/282, San Jose, CA 95193
K. Barmak
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Lehigh University, Whitaker Laboratory, 5 East Packer Ave., Bethlehem, PA 18015–3195
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Abstract

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to investigate grain boundary diffusion of Cu and Cr through 1000 Å thick Co films in the temperature range of 325°C to 400°C. Grain boundary diffusivities were determined by modeling the accumulation of Cu or Cr on Co surfaces as a function of time at fixed annealing temperature. The grain boundary diffusivity of Cu through Co is characterized by a diffusion coefficient, D0gb, of 2 × 104 cm2/sec and an activation energy, Ea,gb, of 2.4 eV. Similarly, Cr grain boundary diffusion through Co thin films occurs with a diffusion coefficient, Do,gb, of 6 × 10-2cm2/sec and an activation energy, Ea,gb of 1.8 eV. The Co film microstructure has been investigated before and after annealing by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron Microscopy. Extensive grain growth and texturing of the film occurred during annealing for Co deposited on a Cu underlayer. In contrast, the microstructure of Co deposited on a Cr underlayer remained relatively unchanged upon annealing. Magnetometer Measurements have shown that increased in-plane coercivity Hc, reduced remanence squareness S, and reduced coercive squareness S* result from grain boundary diffusion of Cu and Cr into the Co films.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 313: Symposium Q1 – Magnetic Ultrathin Films, Multilayers and Surfaces/Magnetic Interfaces-Physics and Characterizations , 1993 , 205
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1993

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