Copper ferrite thin films were rf sputtered at a power of 50W. The as deposited films were annealed in air at 800{deg}C and slow cooled. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies were carried out on as deposited as well as on slow cooled fil
m. Significantly larger defect concentration, including stacking faults, was observed in 50W as deposited films than the films deposited at a higher rf power of 200W. The film annealed at 800{deg}C and then slow cooled showed an unusual grain growth upto 180nm for a film thickness of ~240nm. These grains showed Kikuchi pattern.
The results of dc and ac magnetization, electrical resistance and heat capacity studies in an admixed rare earth alloy Nd0.75Gd0.25Rh3B2, which is close to the zero magnetization limit, are reported. Novel observations include the two antiferromagnet
ic like transitions, concomitant repeated/multiple magnetic compensation behaviour and a characteristic oscillatory magnetic response, with temperature dependence of magnetization at low fields crossing the M = 0 axis thrice. The effective coercive field relating to the residual remanence also has an oscillatory response, with two minima located close to two zero-crossover temperatures. The unusual behavior in Nd0.75Gd0.25Rh3B2 is conjectured to arise from its anisotropic hexagonal structure, with planar anisotropy, resulting in a quasi one dimensional electronic structure and the accentuated role of conduction electron polarization near the zero magnetization limit.
