Identifier

etd-04152005-104143

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Chemistry

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Since the discovery of giant magnetoresistance (GMR) in electrodeposited nanostructured magnetic multilayers and multilayered nanowires, there has been interest throughout the scientific world in the fabrication and characterization of these materials. Magnetic multilayers in the form of thin films can be used as magnetoresistive sensors in the magnetic data storage industry. Arrays of nanowires have the potential for applications in perpendicular ultra-high density data storage and biosensors. Wire-shaped magnetic multilayered nanowires have been shown to exhibit GMR in the so called “current perpendicular-to plane” configuration (CPP-GMR). GMR of multilayers and multilayered nanowires have been investigated in several systems that include Co/Cu, Ni/Cu, NiFe/Cu, CoNi/Cu, and Fe/Cr. In this work, the Co/Cu and CoFe/Cu systems were studied. These systems have produced nanometric multilayers that exhibit GMR, but it has yet to be reported that CoFe/Cu multilayered nanowires exhibit GMR. Our aim is to add Fe to the Co layer of Co/Cu multilayers and produce layers in the form of nanometric wires. The magnetic CoFe system has been chosen because of the combination of high magnetic moment (Co) and low magnetic anisotropy (Fe), two factors needed in order to optimize the GMR phenomenon. The wire-like shape of the nanowires will also serve as an easier way to measure CPP-GMR.

Date

2006

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Julia Chan

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.4009

Download

Included in

Chemistry Commons

Share

COinS