Full Heusler Fe2CrAl nanogranular films produced by pulsed laser deposition for magnonic applications

Obtaining Heusler alloys at the nanoscale with good crystallographic features is appealing for a large range of technological applications, from biomedical to spintronics devices. In particular, Fe2CrAl as bulk is known to present magnetic properties that are strongly sensitive to chemical and physical constraints, such as structural disorder and chemical composition. We report a throughout structural, morphological, and magnetic characterization of Fe2CrAl Heusler nanoparticles obtained by pulsed laser deposition technique. The nanoparticles are composed of slightly off-stoichiometric grains with two distinct morphologies where the role of chemical disorder and inhomogeneity on the magnetic behavior was evaluated. Through DC magnetization measurements, a superparamagnetic behavior is observed and a Gilbert damping of 9 x 10(-3) is acquired from broadband ferromagnetic resonance data, which is comparable with standard materials used for magnonics applications. We discuss the complex magnetostructural coupling that rises on the nanoparticle system, comparing these results with the stoichiometric Fe2CrAl bulk target behavior.

Automated summary

In this study, Fe2CrAl Heusler nanoparticles with good crystallographic features were obtained using pulsed laser deposition technique. The structural, morphological, and magnetic properties of these nanoparticles were investigated, revealing slightly off-stoichiometric grains with two distinct morphologies. The magnetic behavior was found to be influenced by chemical disorder and inhomogeneity. The nanoparticles exhibited a superparamagnetic behavior and a Gilbert damping comparable to standard materials used in magnonics applications. The complex magnetostructural coupling in the nanoparticle system was discussed in comparison with the stoichiometric Fe2CrAl bulk target behavior.