3D Nanomagnetism in Low Density Interconnected Nanowire Networks

TL;DR

This paper reports the fabrication of low-density, interconnected 3D nanowire networks and explores their unique nanomagnetic behaviors, revealing new magnetization reversal mechanisms with potential applications in advanced magnetic devices.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method for creating large-area, low-density interconnected nanowire networks and investigates their 3D nanomagnetic properties and reversal mechanisms.

Findings

Demonstrated fabrication of cm-scale, low-density nanowire networks

Identified new magnetization reversal mechanisms in cobalt networks

Showed potential for 3D magnetic device applications

Abstract

Free-standing, interconnected metallic nanowire networks with density as low as 40 mg/cm^{3} have been achieved over cm-scale areas, using electrodeposition into polycarbonate membranes that have been ion-tracked at multiple angles. Networks of interconnected magnetic nanowires further provide an exciting platform to explore 3-dimensional nanomagnetism, where their structure, topology and frustration may be used as additional degrees of freedom to tailor the materials properties. New magnetization reversal mechanisms in cobalt networks are captured by the first-order reversal curve method, which demonstrate the evolution from strong demagnetizing dipolar interactions to intersections-mediated domain wall pinning and propagation, and eventually to shape-anisotropy dominated magnetization reversal. These findings open up new possibilities for 3-dimensional integrated magnetic devices for memory, complex computation, and neuromorphics.