Novel methods for the fabrication of ferromagnetic nickel and nickel boride thin films
Metal‐rich nickel boride thin films fabricated from boron‐containing precursor compounds by a cluster deposition process are shown to be ferromagnetic. The metal‐rich films fabricated by this approach exhibit hysteresis curves similar to those obtained for pure nickel foils. These films are a mixture of pure nickel and the Ni3B nickel boride phases. It is postulated that the hysteresis curves with smaller remnant magnetizations obtained from these films are a consequence of Ni3B inclusions within the films. Other novel organometallic source compounds for nickel chemical‐vapor deposition are briefly reviewed.
Precursors and operating conditions for the metal-organic chemical vapor deposition of nickel films
The different precursors that have been tested or that are actually in use for the processing of thin films of nickel by the chemical vapor deposition technique are reviewed. Applications of thin films of nickel are presented. Deposition conditions and characteristics of the films obtained from different precursors are detailed. Ni(CO)4, NiCp2, Ni(MeCp)2, Ni(hfa)2, Ni(dmg)2, and Ni(den)2 appear as the most promising ones. The final choice of a precursor for the MOCVD of Ni films depends on requirements concerning the process (e.g. safety issues, deposition temperature, growth rate) and the purity of the deposited films.
Low-temperature specific heat of the metallic glasses Fe x Ni 8 0 − x P 14 B 6 with x = 0 , 20 , 40 , 60 , 80
The specific heat of amorphous ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{80\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{P}}_{14}{\mathrm{B}}_{6}$ (for $x=0,20,40,60,80$) has been measured between 0.6 and 30 K. The dependence of ${\ensuremath{\Theta}}_{D}(0)$, ${\ensuremath{\Theta}}_{D}(T)$, and $N({E}_{F})$ on composition has been determined. In addition the paramagnetic sample ($x=0$) has a large temperature-independent contribution to the specific heat. The ferromagnetic samples ($x=40,60,80$) have spin-wave terms consistent with the results of M\"ossbauer and neutron-diffraction studies. The specific heat of the $x=20$ alloy shows an enhanced linear contribution as well as an exponential contribution at low temperatures raising questions as to its magnetic state.