Unusual size-dependent magnetization in near hemispherical Co nanomagnets on SiO2 from fast pulsed laser processing

Nanosecond pulsed laser melting of ultrathin metal films can lead to self-organized arrays of spherical nanoparticles. We have applied this technique to assemble arrays of nanoparticles of the soft elemental ferromagnet Co on SiO2. Surface morphology studies by using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy established that the nanoparticles were nearly hemispherical with an average contact angle of similar to 104 +/- 22 degrees. Magnetic properties of these nanoparticles in the size range of 30-250 nm diameter were investigated by magnetic force microscopy under zero applied field in conjunction with simulations of the magnetic tip-particle interaction. Particles up to 180 nm diameter were found to be single domain with the magnetization direction oriented predominantly in-plane for the smaller particles (<= 75 nm) and out-of-plane for the larger particles (<= 180 nm). Multidomain behavior was observed for particles larger than 180 nm. Magnetic hysteresis measurements at room temperature confirmed that the arrays consisted of a mixture of in-plane and out-of-plane orientations. Microstructural analysis by transmission electron microscopy revealed that the nanoparticles had a granular microstructure with the average grain size increasing with particle size. This size-dependent magnetic orientation is inconsistent with the expected in-plane orientation due to shape anisotropy. We suggest that a size-dependent residual strain and the microstructure formed by rapid laser processing determine the orientation of nanomagnets. This idea was supported by the significant increase in in-plane orientation of larger particles following thermal annealing. These studies suggest that anisotropic nanomagnets of near hemispherical polycrystalline particles with desired magnetic orientation can be prepared by fast laser thermal processing. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.