Self-assembled FePt nanodot arrays with mono-dispersion and -orientation

For self-assembled nanodots, the ultimate dream is to simultaneously achieve tunable uniformity in size, spatial distribution, chemical composition, and crystallographic orientation. By utilizing the Volmer-Weber growth mode in thin film epitaxy, we have grown self-assembled two-dimensional arrays of FePt alloy nanodots that are uniform in size, chemical composition, and are all crystallgraphically aligned. These dot assemblies are ferromagnetic at room temperature and can be easily transferred onto other templates without destroying the size and orientation uniformity. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.