The Role of Cu Content on Properties of Electrodeposited Fe-Cu Films

The microstructural and magnetic properties of Fe-Cu films were studied in terms of Cu content in the films. The results of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed that the Cu content in the films increases as the Cu concentration in the electrolyte is increased. The increase of the Cu content in the films makes the film morphology seem cauliflower-like structure and the films with Cu have rougher surface than pure Fe films. The X-ray diffraction revealed that the films have body-centered cubic structure of alpha-Fe, and the Fe film has the (100) preferential texture whereas the Fe-Cu film containing 9.5 wt% Cu has the (110) preferential texture. The magnetic analysis carried out by vibrating sample magnetometer showed that the increase of the Cu content in the film results in the decrease of the saturation magnetization and the increase of the coercivity, and the easy-axis direction of the magnetization is parallel to the film plane. It is seen that the microstructural and magnetic properties of the Fe-Cu films changes depending on the film content.