Electrochemical synthesis of 3D ordered ferromagnetic nickel replicas using self-assembled colloidal crystal templates

3D ordered nickel replicas of colloidal crystals were fabricated by electrodeposition into colloidal crystal templates. Colloidal crystals were self-assembled in a lateral flow cell that was also used for electrodeposition. We show that 3D replicas with thicknesses up to 100 mum can be formed over relatively large areas using this approach. We also show that the magnetic properties of the replicas are characteristic of a 3D nanostructured network.