Magnetic properties of Fe-Cu alloys prepared by pulsed electrodeposition

FexCu100-x metastable alloys were prepared by pulsed electrodeposition for 550) are reminiscent of those observed in Fe-Cu alloys prepared by other methods. The Curie temperature decreases regularly with decreasing x. In the Fe-poor alloys (x≤30), the observed properties indicate that Fe-rich clusters form within a Cu-rich matrix. In the x=10 alloy, the Fe clusters are found to be superparamagnetic at room temperature, but a superferromagnetic order develops below a critical temperature of about 120 K. It is suggested that the intercluster coupling is mediated by Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida interactions which are predominantly positive due to the very short intercluster distances.