Microstructure and properties of Co-Sm-O nanogranular films

The effect of annealing on the structure and physical properties of Co-Sm-O alloy films prepared using pulsed plasma deposition is investigated. It is found that Co-Sm-O films in the initial state possess superparamagnetic properties due to the presence of small-sized magnetic nanoparticles surrounded by dielectric layers of samarium oxide in the film structure. Upon annealing, the Co-Sm-O films undergo structural transformations and exhibit a number of magnetic properties (including those inherent in both soft and hard magnetic materials).