Ferromagnetic nanoparticles embedded in self-arranged matrices

The investigated nanoscopic system, consisting of a non magnetic host material and precipitated ferromagnetic nanostructures shows a magnetic behaviour correlated to the size and shape of the deposited particles but also to their spatial distribution within the template which modifies the magnetic interactions between them. The nanostructures are deposited electrochemically into an etched silicon wafer exhibiting an array of channels of a few ten nanometers in diameter and a length up to 50 mu m. The self-assembled grown templates offer the opportunity of tuning the magnetic properties by varying the geometrical characteristics of the membrane which can be loaded with different metals like Ni or Co with variable metal distribution. Magnetic characteristics like coercivity, magnetic anisotropy and temperature dependent magnetization give a survey about the structure and the magnetic interactions of the nanocomposite. This achieved ferromagnetic nanocomposite system is not only of interest for basic research but also gives rise to applications in magneto-optics, spintronics and sensor application. (C) 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.