Hydrogen-mediated magnetic domain formation and domain wall motion in Co(30)Pd(70) alloy films

In this study, the microscopic origin of the hydrogen effect on magnetic materials was explored through the characterization of time-dependent magnetic domain evolution. We prepared 25-nm Co(30)Pd(70) alloy films with canted magnetic moment on SiO(2)/Si(001) substrates. From macroscopic Kerr hysteresis loops, considerable hydrogen-induced reduction of magnetic coercivity by a factor of 1/5 in a longitudinal direction and enhancement of magnetic remanence to saturation ratio from 60% to 100% were observed. The magnetic reversal behavior of the Co(30)Pd(70) alloy films gradually transformed from nucleation- to domain-wall-motion dominance when H(2) pressure was increased from a vacuum of 1 × 10(−5) mbar to 0.8 bar. Domain size also increased considerably with H(2) pressure. When H(2) pressure was above 0.4 bar, the domain wall (DW) motion was clear to observe and the DW velocity was approximately 10(−6)–10(−5) m/s. Greater hydrogen content in the Co(30)Pd(70) alloy films promoted DW motion that was closer to the behavior of a thermally activated model. The hydrogen effects on magnetism were observed to be reversible and could have valuable future application in spintronic devices for hydrogen sensing.