Cluster-Assembled Nanocomposites

Authors

• Yinfan Xu, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
• M.L. Yan, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
• David J. Sellmyer, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

January 2006

Comments

Published in Advanced Magnetic Nanostructures, edited by David Sellmyer and Ralph Skomski. New York: Springer, 2006. Pages 207–238. Copyright © 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. Used by permission.

Abstract

This chapter focuses on a gas-aggregation technique to prepare magnetic nanoclusters with controllable cluster sizes and size distributions. The review includes current research on nanoclusters, such as uncoated and oxide-coated Fe, Co and Fe clusters and clusters made from alloys, but special emphasis is on highly anisotropic L1₀-ordered FePt clusters, which are of potential interest for magnetic recording with ultrahigh areal densities of more than 1 Tera bit/in². In particular, we discuss magnetic and structural properties of FePt nanoclusters and thin films. Another approach discussed in the chapter is to create cluster nanocomposites by multilayering with post-deposition annealing. The advantage of this method is that the clusters can be oriented along a desired easy axis. One example is L1₀-(001) oriented FePt nanocomposite films with a FePt cluster size of about 5 nm.