Microstructure, transport and galvanomagnetic properties of Ni ₄₈ Fe ₁₂ Cr ₄₀ thin films

The microstructure, transport, and galvanometric properties of Ni 48 Fe 12 Cr 40 thin films of various thickness, obtained by magnetron sputtering, were studied in the temperature range of 93–293 K. The Ni 48 Fe 12 Cr 40 film with thickness of 5 nm has been found to be X-ray amorphous and exhibits a negative temperature coefficient of resistance. The observation of anisotropic magnetoresistance, as well as anomalous and planar Hall effect, indicates the presence of ferromagnetic ordering in this sample. The increase of the Ni 48 Fe 12 Cr 40 film thickness to 8 nm leads to the crystallization and texture formation, which promotes more uniform distribution of Cr atoms in Ni–Fe matrix and suppression of the long-range ferromagnetic order.