Tunable magnetic properties of arrays of Fe(1 1 0) nanowires grown on kinetically grooved W(1 1 0) self-organized templates

We report a detailed magnetic study of a new type of self-organized nanowires discussed briefly previously B. Borca et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 90 (2007) 142507]. The templates, prepared on sapphire wafers in a kinetically limited regime, consist of uniaxially grooved W(1 1 0) surfaces, with a lateral period here tuned to 15 nm. Fe deposition leads to the formation of (1 1 0) 7 nm-wide wires located at the bottom of the grooves. The effect of capping layers (Mo, Pd, Au, Al) and underlayers (Mo, W) on the magnetic anisotropy of the wires was studied. Significant discrepancies with figures known for thin flat films are evidenced and discussed in terms of step anisotropy and strain-dependent surface anisotropy. Demagnetizing coefficients of cylinders with a triangular isosceles cross-section have also been calculated, to estimate the contribution of dipolar anisotropy. Finally, the dependence of magnetic anisotropy with the interface element was used to tune the blocking temperature of the wires, here from 50 to 200 K.