In this paper the results of investigations of pure and Ca-doped CoO thin films deposited by PLD technique are presented. The studies carried out for variable Ca content allowed to establish optimal conditions for good quality oxide films preparation. The microstructure, chemical/phase composition and morphology of obtained thin films were examined by means of diverse techniques (SEM, EDS, XPS and XRD). For estimation of deposited Ca-doped CoO films quality the nanohardness and scratch tests (adhesion) were performed. Obtained results confirm that using PLD technique it is possible to carry stoichiometric composition of (Co,Ca)O from target to single crystal substrate and allow to conclude that the calcium dopant concentration (chemical composition) influence on the morphology and measured properties of deposited (Co,Ca)O films.
We studied changes of morphology and magnetic properties of Co/Cu multilayered nanowires, electrodeposited in polycarbonate membranes, as a function of Cu layer thickness. The morphology and structure of wire assemblies with an average diameter of 200 nm and length of 10 μ m, investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques, revealed polycrystalline structure of Cu and Co layers with smooth lateral surface of nanowires. Overdeposited nanowires created caps which showed flower-like dendrites with shape changing as a function of Cu thickness and electrodeposition parameters. Chemical composition of Co and Cu nanowires analysed by energy dispersive spectroscopy and proton induced X-ray emission showed Cu nanowires free from Co atoms while in Co nanowires, Cu contamination with concentration below 10% was observed. The oxidation traces observed in single-component Cu nanowires did not appear in multilayered nanowires. Magnetic measurements indicated easy axis of magnetization in membrane plane for nanowires with Cu thickness smaller than 20 nm, whereas for larger Cu thicknesses isotropic orientation of magnetization was observed. The presence of Cu atoms in single-component Co nanowires resulted in the appearance of magnetic anisotropy with easy axis along nanowire axis and the increase of coercivity value.
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