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Systematic tuning of segmented magnetic nanowires into three-dimensional arrays of ‘bits’

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Bochmann, S 
Fernandez-Pacheco, Amalio  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3862-8472
Mačković, M 
Neff, A 
Siefermann, KR 

Abstract

A method is presented for the preparation of a three-dimensional magnetic data storage material system. The major ingredients are an inert nanoporous matrix prepared by anodization and galvanic plating of magnetic and non-magnetic metals in wire shape inside the cylindrical pores. The individual nanomagnets consist of a nickel–cobalt alloy, the composition of which is tuned systematically by adjusting the electrolytic bath composition at one optimal applied potential. The lowest magnetocrystalline anisotropy is obtained at the composition Ni60Co40, as quantified by superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry. Wires of this composition experience a pinning-free propagation of magnetic domain walls, as determined by single-wire magneto-optical Kerr effect magnetometry. Adding copper into the electrolyte allows one to generate segments of Ni60Co40 separated by non-magnetic copper. The segment structure is apparent in individual nanowires imaged by scanning electron microscopy, UV-photoelectron emission microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The single-domain structure of the wire segments is evidenced by magnetic force microscopy.

Description

Keywords

34 Chemical Sciences

Journal Title

RSC Advances

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2046-2069
2046-2069

Volume Title

7

Publisher

Royal Society of Chemistry
Sponsorship
European Commission (251698)
European Commission (309589)
The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community's Seventh Framework Program under Grant No. 309589 (M3d). KRS and AN acknowledge funding from Europ¨aischer Fonds fur regionale Entwicklung ¨ (EFRE). Andreas Neff was supported by a scholarship of the Beilstein Institute. ES and MM gratefully acknowledge the nancial support by the German Research Foundation (DFG) through the Cluster of Excellence EXC315 “Engineering of Advanced Materials” and the Research training group GRK1896 “In situ microscopy with electrons, X-rays and scanning probes”.