Structural and magnetic characterization of martensitic Ni–Mn–Ga thin films deposited on Mo foil Original Research Article

Three martensitic Ni51.4Mn28.3Ga20.3 thin films sputter-deposited on a Mo foil were investigated with regard to their crystal and magnetic domain structures, as well as their magnetic and magnetostrain properties. The film thicknesses, d, were 0.1, 0.4 and 1.0μm. X-ray and electron diffraction patterns revealed a tetragonal modulated martensitic phase (10 M) in the films. The surface topography and micromagnetic structure were studied by scanning probe microscopy. A maze magnetic domain structure featuring a large out-of-plane magnetization component was found in all films. The domain width, δ, depends on the film thickness as image. The thickness dependencies of the saturation magnetization, saturation magnetic field and magnetic anisotropy were clarified. Beam cantilever tests on the Ni–Mn–Ga/Mo composite as a function of magnetic field showed reversible strains, which are larger than ordinary magnetostriction.