AVS 50th International Symposium
    Magnetic Interfaces and Nanostructures Tuesday Sessions
       Session MI+NS-TuA

Paper MI+NS-TuA5
Self-assembly of FePt Nanoparticles on Si(100) Surface

Tuesday, November 4, 2003, 3:20 pm, Room 316

Session: Self Assembly and Nanomagnetism
Presenter: N. Shukla, Seagate Research
Authors: N. Shukla, Seagate Research
J. Ahner, Seagate Research
D. Weller, Seagate Research
Correspondent: Click to Email
Chemically synthesized monodispersed FePt nanoparticles are of great interest due their high magnetic anisotropy. The self-assembly and uniform coating of these nanoparticles on substrates is crucial for enabling high-density magnetic recording media. We have studied various parameters, potentially influencing the uniformity of FePt nanoparticle coatings. In particular, we report on the effects of excess surfactant concentration, type of surfactant, solvents and substrates. Films are fabricated using dip-coating and spin-coating methods. A narrow range of surfactant concentration is identified that leads to long range (~ 1x 1 mm@super2@) uniformity. Outside this concentration range the nanoparticle coatings form clusters with local self-assembly. In addition, the type of solvent and type of surfactant has a profound impact on the self-assembly of FePt. Decreasing the size of surfactant chain length changes the self-assembly from uniform to ring structures. Polarity and viscosity of the solvents also impact the self-assembly. Polar solvents give poor uniformity. Low viscous solvents have a similar impact.