Self-ordered growth and magnetic force microscopy study of iron nanoparticles

We present atomic and magnetic force microscopy measurements on magnetic iron nanoparticles produced by a self-assembly method. The fabrication process is based on the thermal disintegration of iron nanowires deposited on faceted Al2O3 Substrates. Arrangement and size of the particles depend on the annealing temperature. For iron this process yields particles with diameters in the range of 100-250 nm. The usage of the prepatterned substrates enforces a linear alignment of the particles. Magnetic force microscopy shows that the particles can be remanently magnetized with external fields of different orientations. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.