Size-Specific Magnetic Configurations in Electrodeposited Epitaxial Iron Nanocuboids: From Landau Pattern to Vortex and Single Domain States
Shanshan Guo, Mara Henschel, Daniel Wolf, Darius Pohl, Axel Lubk, Thomas Blon, V. Neu, Karin Leistner
Abstract
As the size of magnetic devices continuously decreases, the creation of three-dimensional nanomagnets and the understanding of their magnetic configurations become increasingly important for modern applications. Here, by progressive nucleation during epitaxial nanoelectrodeposition, we synthesize single-crystal iron nanocuboids with sizes ranging 10 to 200 nm on one sample. The size-dependent magnetic configurations of these nanocuboids are studied by quantitative magnetic force microscopy and electron holography. In conjunction, a "magnetic configuration versus size" phase diagram is established via micromagnetic simulations. Both experiment and theory reveal a sequential transition from Landau pattern to vortex and finally single domain when decreasing the sizes of the nanocuboids. The combinatorial-like approach leads to a quantitative understanding of the magnetic configurations of the nanomagnets in a broad size range. It can be transferred to other materials and shapes and thereby presents an advanced route to enrich the material library for future nanodevice design.