title: Macroscopic arrays of magnetic nanostructures from self-assembled nanosphere templates.
abstract: We have extended the widely used technique of nanosphere lithography to produce nanosphere templates with significantly improved long-range order. Single, ordered domains stretching over areas greater than 1 cm2 have been achieved by assembling spheres with the correct surface chemistry on a water/air interface. Self-assembly over macroscopic areas is facilitated by a combination of electrostatic and capillary forces. The presented technique is easily implemented, and the assembled monolayers can be transferred onto almost any surface, thus making the procedure applicable to a broad range of nanoscale research. We demonstrate this through the fabrication of hexagonally ordered, macroscopic arrays of magnetic nanostructures with modified magnetic properties.
authors.affiliation: School of Physics, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QL, U.K. s.m.weekes@exeter.ac.uk
authors.forename: Shemaiah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Weekes
authors.forename: Feodor Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Ogrin
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Keatley