Microstructure of magnetic metallic superlattices grown by electrodeposition in membrane nanopores

Magnetic metallic multilayers grown by electrodeposition in nanopores are good candidates for the study and application of giant magnetoresistance (GMR) in the 'current perpendicular to the planes (CPP)' geometry. We show that, in spite of the relative simplicity of growth by electrolysis, these multilayers are indeed superlattices, with single-crystal grains including several tens of layers. We analyse their microstructure in detail, using X-ray diffraction and analytical transmission electron microscopy. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.