Tunable magnetic anisotropy of self-assembled Fe nanostructures within a La0.5Sr0.5FeO3 matrix

Metallic nanostructures within ceramic matrices provide a unique platform for integrating magnetic, optical, and electrical properties for device applications. Currently, hurdles still exist for the integration of metallic nanostructures within conventional devices, including the incompatible growth conditions between metals and ceramics and control of the overall physical properties. In this study, we demonstrate the tunability of a one-step growth method to fabricate magnetic and metallic nanostructures embedded within an oxide matrix, La0.5Sr0.5FeO3:Fe, from a composite target using pulsed laser deposition. The metal-ceramic nanocomposite films demonstrate tunable nanostructures and anisotropic magnetic response by varying deposition energy, presenting a mechanism for tuning the physical properties of vertically aligned ferromagnetic metallic nanopillars in an oxide matrix. This study also opens avenues towards the integration of nanoscale, vertical, metallic ferromagnetic contacts for anisotropic magnetic tunneling junctions which may not be easily realized by single-phase thin films. Published by AIP Publishing.