Exchange bias of MnPt/CoFe films prepared by ion beam deposition

We report on exchange bias of Mn100−xPtx/Co90Fe10 bottom-pinned bilayers prepared by ion beam deposition. The Pt content in the film was varied 6 at. % with x between 46 and 52 at. % by changing the angle of substrate relative to the target in a range of 40°. Exchange coupling for a Mn100−xPtx(20 nm)/Co90Fe10(5 nm) bilayer was found to be maximum (Jex=0.34 erg/cm2) at a composition with x=50 at. %. Structure and magnetic properties of the bilayers deposited on Ta, Ta/Ru, and Ta/Ni81Fe19 seed layers were studied by vibrating sample magnetometry, x-ray diffraction, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Exchange bias and coercive field can be tuned as functions of the seed layer. The effect of different annealing conditions on exchange bias is discussed to improve thermal stability of the bilayers. Maximum exchange coupling is obtained at an annealing temperature TA⩾280 °C, while the blocking temperature TB keeps increasing with annealing up to TA=420 °C.