C. Clavero

Plasmonics and Enhanced Magneto-Optics in Core−Shell Co−Ag Nanoparticles

We present theoretical and experimental studies that explain the observed strong enhancement of the magneto-optical (MO) Faraday rotation in all-metal core-shell Co-Ag nanoparticles (NPs) attributed to localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). We also explain why the optical absorption and MO spectra peaks appear blue-shifted with increased Co core size while keeping the NP size constant. Further, we demonstrate direct correlation between the strong LSPR induced electromagnetic fields and the enhanced MO activity of the NPs.

Cobalt nanoparticles deposited and embedded in AlN: Magnetic, magneto-optical, and morphological properties

We present a structural, morphological, magnetic, and magneto-optical study of cobalt nanoparticles deposited on 50A AlN∕c-sapphire substrates and embedded in an AlN matrix. The dependence of the properties of Co nanoclusters deposited on AlN with growth temperature and amount of deposited Co are studied and discussed. Also we directly compare the properties of as grown and AlN embedded Co nanoclusters and show that the AlN matrix has a strong impact on their magnetic and magneto-optical properties.

Interface effects in the magneto-optical properties of Co nanoparticles in dielectric matrix

The authors present a study of the optical and magneto-optical properties of Co nanoparticles embedded in two amorphous dielectric matrices with different refractive indices such as ZrO2 and Al2O3. The nanostructured films were prepared by pulsed laser deposition, and the morphology and structure were studied by different characterization techniques. The optical and magneto-optical (MO) properties of the Co inside the nanoparticles differ from those of the bulk material; in particular, a decrease in the MO constants is found. These properties are found to depend on the nanoparticle size and on the dielectric matrix, due to the different nanoparticle-matrix interfaces appearing in both cases.

Optimizing the planar structure of (1 1 1) Au/Co/Au trilayers

Au/Co/Au trilayers are interesting for a range of applications which exploit their unusual optical and electronic transport behaviour in a magnetic field. Here we present a comprehensive structural and morphological study of a series of trilayers with 0–7 nm Co layer thickness fabricated on glass by ultrahigh vacuum vapour deposition. We use a combination of in situ electron diffraction, atomic force microscopy and x-ray scattering to determine the optimum deposition conditions for highly textured, flat and continuous layered structures. The 16 nm Au-on-glass buffer layer, deposited at ambient temperature, is found to develop a smooth (1 1 1) texture on annealing at 350 °C for 10 min. Subsequent growth of the Co layer at 150 °C produces a (1 1 1) textured film with lateral grain size of ~150 nm in the 7 nm-thick Co layer. A simultaneous in-plane and out-of-plane Co lattice expansion is observed for the thinnest Co layers, converging to bulk values for the thickest films. The roughness of the Co layer is similar to that of the Au buffer layer, indicative of conformal growth. The 6 nm Au capping layer smoothens the trilayer surface, resulting in a surface roughness independent of the Co layer thickness.

Capping layer effects in the structure and composition of Co nanoparticle ultrathin films

In this work, we present the correlation of the magnetic and structural properties of Co nanoparticles deposited by sputtering on Si3N4 substrates at different temperatures, and covered with different capping layers, two insulators, AlN and MgO, and a metal, Pt. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy shows the formation of CoPt3 and Co2N, for the Pt and AlN capping layers, respectively, giving to a significant change of the magnetic behavior. When using a cap of MgO, energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy shows an oxidized shell covering the Co nanoparticles with thickness decreasing as the deposition temperature increases, explaining the changes in the magnetic response induced by the MgO capping layer.

Capping-layer-induced magnetic coupling in a two-dimensional nanostructured system

The magnetic polarization of a Pt capping layer leads to an increase of the interisland magnetic coupling in a two-dimensional array of Fe islands. For small superparamagnetic islands, Pt deposition leads to a superparamagnetic–ferromagnetic transition. For larger ferromagnetic but weakly coupled islands, Pt deposition produces a stronger interisland coupling. Polar Kerr spectroscopy measurements and simulations evidence the magnetic polarization of Pt in contact with Fe. The described effects and their interpretation are supported by the use of a nonpolarizable Al capping, where both the superparamagnetic-to-ferromagnetic transition and the increase of the interisland coupling are absent.

Morphological and magnetic properties of Co nanoparticle thin films grown on Si3N4

The morphological and magnetic properties of Co nanoparticles deposited by triode sputtering on Si3N4 at 550°C are reported. The nominal thickness of Co ranges from 2 up to 15nm, and two different capping layers, Au and Pt, are used. The nanoparticles were characterized by x-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. Morphological and structural studies show that the nanoparticles grow in a well-defined nanostructured pattern and adopt a hexagonal closed packed crystalline structure. Moreover, the average particle size and the particle size dispersion increase as the thickness increases, due to percolation. Experimental characterization of effective anisotropy field was carried out with transverse susceptibility. Transverse susceptibility measurements reveal an in-plane isotropic magnetic behavior. Both the effective anisotropy field and the coercive field increase as the particle size increases, following a D6 dependence, which is typical for three-dimensional structures in the framework of the random ...

Size mediated control of the optical and magneto-optical properties of Co nanoparticles in ZrO2

We present a study of the optical and magneto-optical MO properties of Co nanoparticles embedded in ZrO2 in the spectral range from 1.4 to 4.3 eV. The nanostructured films were prepared by pulsed laser deposition in a wide range of Co nanoparticle concentrations varying from 20% to 80%. For Co concentration lower than x0.45 the size of the nanoparticles was found to remain almost constant D2.5 nm, whereas it increases above it. Differences are found between the optical and MO constant of the Co nanoparticles and those of continuous Co films. Those differences are associated with size effects of the intraband contribution inside the nanoparticles.

Characterization of two different orientations of epitaxial niobium thin films grown on MgO(001) surfaces

Epitaxial Nb thin films deposited onto the same crystalline insulating surface can evolve in very different fashions depending on specific deposition conditions, thereby affecting their microstructure, surface morphology and superconducting properties. Here, we examine and compare the microstructure and ensuing surface morphology from two distinct Nb/MgO series each with its own epitaxial registry—namely Nb(001)/MgO(001) and Nb(110)/MgO(001)—leading to distinct surface anisotropy and we closely examine the dynamical scaling of the surface features during growth. We compare our findings with those in other metal/MgO epitaxial systems and for the first time, general scaling formalism is applied to analyze anisotropic surfaces exhibiting biaxial symmetry. Further, Power Spectral Density is applied to the specific problem of thin film growth and surface evolution to qualify the set of deposition conditions leading to smoother surfaces. We find good correlation between the surface morphology and microstructure of the various Nb films with superconducting properties such as their residual resistance ratio and lower critical field.

Real time structural modification of epitaxial FePt thin films under x-ray rapid thermal annealing using undulator radiation

Modification of chemical order in epitaxial FePt binary alloy thin films deposited on MgO (100) substrates was induced and investigated in real time using x-ray rapid thermal annealing (XRTA). This is possible because synchrotron undulator radiation has sufficient power density to induce significant structural modifications in thin films and its energy can be tuned to optimize absorption in the sample. A monochromatic portion of the pink beam diffracted from the epitaxial FePt sample was used to probe microstructure evolution in real time and significant changes in chemical order were observed. In particular, the relative amount of L10 phase remained practically unchanged whereas the amount of L12 phase was significantly decreased in the FePt thin film sample during XRTA.