Electrochemical deposition and characterization of CoFe2O4 thin films

An electrochemical deposition process, which is a combination of electrodeposition of CoFe2, alloy from an ethylene glycol bath followed by its anodization at ambient temperature, is used to deposit CoFe2O4 thin films on different conducting substrates. Various deposition conditions are studied and optimized. The films have spinel CoFe2O4 structure with crystallite size less than 50 run. The films are adherent and covered the substrates well. The films are annealed in air at 500 degreesC for 1 h and the observed properties are reported. After annealing the films have smooth and compact surfaces with improved magnetic properties. (C) 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.