STRUCTURE AND SURFACE MORPHOLOGY OF CoCrTa THIN FILMS DEPOSITED AT LOW SPUTTERING PRESSURE

Usman M. Gana
Department of Physics, Bayero University, Kano
E-mail: ganau1871@buk.edu.ng
ABSTRACT
Thin films of Co78.6Cr18.9Ta2.5 were deposited on ultra-flat and smooth glass disk substrates. The structure and surface morphology of the films were studied by optical and electron (scanning and transmission) microscopy. The combination of the inertness of the substrate and the low deposition pressure used lead to the development of isolated grains. The surface morphology of the films remained smooth and fairly flat with average surface roughness of 1.64nm. The sample deposited at the highest pressure of 1.2 x 10-2mbar showed the greatest deviation of the roughness value from Gaussian (normal) distribution of the glass disk substrate. The low surface roughness values are indicative of good potential of the use of the technique in the production of media that could employ very low flying heights in magnetic recording.