Magnetic Properties of Electrodeposited Nickel-Iron-Phosphorus Thin Films

Abstract

The effect of hypophosphite ions in the plating bath on the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in nickel‐iron thin films electrodeposited on uniaxially scratched substrates was investigated. It was observed that the presence of hypophosphite ion in the plating bath results in a decrease of the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. This decrease of the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy was found to be due to the decrease of the saturation magnetization of the films electrodeposited from the plating bath containing hypophosphite ions. Three possibilities for the effect of the phosphorus on the saturation magnetization are considered.