MAGNETIC-ANISOTROPY OF ELECTRODEPOSITED COBALT ON ALUMITE SUBSTRATE

Magnetic anisotropy of electrodeposited cobalt film on porous alumite can be modulated by controlling the pH of the solution and the pulsed current density. The microstructure of the thin Co film depends on the interfacial pH. Hexagonal [00.2] preferred orientation is obtained when the interfacial pH is higher than six and approaching the solubility limit of Co(OH)2. High interfacial pH can be obtained by operating above the limiting current density. Different microstructures are obtained by modulating the interfacial pH through the applied current density and the solution pH. Anisotropy fields as high as 3600 Oe are obtained for high aspect ratios when the hexagonal [00.2] preferred orientation structure is obtained. © 1990, The Electrochemical Society, Inc. All rights reserved.