Preparation of Spinel Ferrite Thin Films by Plasma Assisted MO-CVD

Thin films of spinel ferrite, CoxFe3-xO4 (0¿×¿1.0), were prepared by plasma-assisted MO-CVD from mixed vapor containing Fe(C5H7O2)3, Co(C5H7O2)3 and O2. X-ray diffraction patterns and SEM images of the films revealed a columnar structure with a ≪100≫ preferred orientation, irrespective of the Co content x, and the diameters of columns dropped from 1500 Ã… to 400 Ã… as the Co content x was increased from 0 to 1.00. Film CEMS spectra and B-H loops indicated that the magnetic spin direction in film without Co was random, but tended to become oriented perpendicular to the film surface with increasing Co content.