Vertically Aligned Nanocomposites in Magnetic Thin Films

Abstract

With the advent of ferromagnetic materials for magnetic memory among other applications, increased attention has been given to understanding the properties of these ferromagnets. Here, a vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) system is examined for ferromagnetism and the tuning of its magnetic properties. Specifically, different compositions of (CoFe2O4)x : (CeO2)1-x , grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) are tested for varying properties. Growth of different compositions of the VANs allows for an understanding of how exactly the system is different than conventional ferromagnetic materials. This new system, utilizing a combination of two phases as opposed to the thoroughly explored single phase scheme, yields interesting results that can open the door for more ferromagnet applications.