Carbon Nanotube Assisted Enhancement of the Magneto-Optical Kerr Signal in Nickel Thin Films

摘要

In this paper, the effect of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) acting as a covering layer on the [Glass/Ni] sample was experimentally investigated. To this end, a 48nm thick Ni thin film was initially deposited on the glass substrate using a thermal evaporation method. Afterward, a spin-coating method was employed to deposit a thin layer of CNTs on the Ni thin film, thereby forming the [Glass/Ni/CNT] structure. Compared to [Glass/Ni] samples, the presence of CNTs led to 100% and 180% enhancement in the longitudinal Kerr signal of spin-coated samples. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectra and vibrating-sample magnetometer analyses were employed to characterize and investigate the morphology, elemental analysis, and optical and magnetic characteristics of the resulting structures. As a covering layer, the CNTs enhanced the absorption of light in the UV-visible wavelength range while also amplifying the interaction of light with the Ni layer without seriously changing other magnetic properties of the structure. Accordingly, using a simple approach, the Kerr signal was amplified more than three times compared to that of an uncovered sample, providing useful applications for magnetic sensors.