Magnetic properties of sol-gel derived Ni-Zn ferrite thin films

Abstract

The soft Ni-Zn ferries thin films were fabricated by a new metal salts-routed sol-gel processing, and magnetic properties of the films were investigated. A film with an homogeneous spinel phase was obtained from stock solution spun on SiO2/Si(100) substrate and a subsequent heat treatment ranging 500-800 degrees C in air or O-2. The microstructure of the films consisted of spherical grains of 500-1000 Angstrom in size and 50-100 Angstrom in surface roughness (rms). Microstructure and magnetic properties of the films were functions of annealing temperature and atmosphere. The optimized film was attained by annealing at 600 degrees C in O-2, which exhibited M-s=300 emu/cc and H-c=170 Oe.