Magnetic properties of Co/Ag/Co films grown on Ag(100) nanometer-scale islands

Self-assembled Ag(100) islands on Si(100) substrate were fabricated by using the molecular beam epitaxy technique. Co/Ag/Co films were then grown onto Ag films at 100 °C. We have experimentally demonstrated that the magnetic behavior of Co/Ag/Co films is strongly dependent on the thickness and morphology of the Ag(100) islands that serve as a buffer layer. The buffer layer designed to reduce the surface free energy forms isolated pyramidal islands with {111} sidewalls on the Si(100) substrate, and provides feasibility to study the correlation between magnetic properties and interface roughness. Ag islands also play an important role in the magnetoresistance transition of Co/Ag/Co films. The roughened Ag(100) surface facilitates texture growth of Co/Ag/Co films and provides a resultant domain-wall-pinning, that in turn contributes to the in-plane demagnetization factor.