title: Self-Assembled Magnetic Metallic Nanopillars in Ceramic Matrix with Anisotropic Magnetic and Electrical Transport Properties.
abstract: Ordered arrays of metallic nanopillars embedded in a ceramic matrix have recently attracted considerable interest for their multifunctionality in advanced devices. A number of hurdles need to be overcome for achieving practical devices, including selections of metal-ceramic combination, creation of tunable and ordered structure, and control of strain state. In this article, we demonstrate major advances to create such a fine nanoscale structure, i.e., epitaxial self-assembled vertically aligned metal-ceramic composite, in one-step growth using pulsed laser deposition. Tunable diameter and spacing of the nanopillars can be achieved by controlling the growth parameters such as deposition temperature. The magnetic metal-ceramic composite thin films demonstrate uniaxial anisotropic magnetic properties and enhanced coercivity compared to that of bulk metal. The system also presents unique anisotropic electrical transport properties under in-plane and out-of-plane directions. This work paves a new avenue to fabricate epitaxial metal-ceramic nanocomposites, which can simulate broader future explorations in nanocomposites with novel magnetic, optical, electrical, and catalytical properties.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Wenrui
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Sandia National Laboratories , PO Box 5800, MS 1411, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-1411, United States.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina , Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States.
authors.forename: Shumin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Fauzia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khatkhatay
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jian
authors.forename: Leigang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina , Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States.
authors.forename: Fanglin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xinghang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge , Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Judith L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: MacManus-Driscoll
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States.
authors.forename: Aiping
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States.
authors.forename: Quanxi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University , West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States.
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: interface; magnetic storage; metal−ceramic composite; self-assembly; thin film