Synthesis and magnetic properties of large-area ferromagnetic cylindrical nanoshell and nanocup arrays

Abstract

Large-area arrays of magnetic Ni80Fe20 cylindrical nanoshells, nanocups, and perforated nanocups were synthesized using oblique deposition into topographical templates patterned using laser interference lithography. The geometry of the template and the tilt angle of the sample during deposition provide versatile control over the final geometry and dimension of nanostructures with thickness below 10 nm. Decreasing shell thickness led to a magnetization switching path between onion (bidomain) and reverse onion states, bypassing the vortex (flux-closed) state. The variation of magnetization reversal processes with geometry was characterized using vibrating sample magnetometry, and the results were in good agreement with micromagnetic simulations. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.