Modulation of magnetic anisotropy and high-frequency soft-magnetic property of FeSiBNbCu nanocrystalline alloy via continuous tension annealing

<p indent="0mm">Soft magnetic materials, playing an important role in integrated transformers and inductors, are crucial in the more-than-Moore era, which contain stable permeability over megahertz (MHz). However, traditional frequency-stable soft magnetic ferrites are unsuitable for integrated circuits due to their low saturation magnetization and temperature instability. Fe-based nanocrystalline alloys exhibit excellent soft-magnetic properties containing the unique nanocrystalline-amorphous dual-phase structure, which shows great potential in strategic emerging industries such as new energy vehicles and 5G communications. Here, continuous tension annealing is utilized to obtain improved nanocrystalline alloy with excellently stable permeability of ~400 when frequencies ranging from <sc>1 kHz</sc> to <sc>10 MHz.</sc> The uniaxial anisotropy energy is up to <sc>2503 J/m³</sc> and narrow strip-like domains are formed with equal width and transverse orientation after tension annealing treatment. This study can potentially revolutionize the way for future integrated transformers and induction in modern electronic devices.