Effect of hydrogen on magnetic properties of Fe60Al40 alloy thin films

The influence of hydrogen on magnetic properties and defects of metallic thin films based on FeAl alloys was investigated. Therefore, hydrogen ions have been implanted with different fluences into disordered Fe60Al40 thin films. Magneto-optical Kerr effect showed an increase of coercivity with increasing ion fluence. The treatment of paramagnetic Fe60Al40 thin films in a climate chamber, on the other hand, led to an establishment of ferromagnetism. Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis showed no hydrogen in the implanted and climate chamber treated samples. However, positron annihilation measurements suggest storage of hydrogen in vacancies. The origin of ferromagnetism was investigated with further methods.