Magnetotransport properties of high-quality cobalt nanowires grown by focused-electron-beam-induced deposition

Abstract

High-quality cobalt nanowires have been grown by focused-electron-beam-induced deposition (FEBID) and their magnetic and transport properties determined. The nanowires contain up to about 95% Co atomic percentage, as measured by EDX spectroscopy, which remarkably represents a high value compared with other metal deposits grown by the same technique. The Co content has been found to correlate with the beam current used for the growth. The magnetotransport properties have been studied on individual nanowires through 4-probe measurements. For the nanowires with the highest Co content, the resistivity at room temperature is low (~40 µΩ cm), and shows metallic temperature dependence. The magnetotransport properties clearly demonstrate the ferromagnetic nature of the nanowire, with a saturation magnetization of Ms = 1329 ± 20 emu cm−3, very close to the bulk one. Due to the local character of this type of growth at targeted places and its high lateral resolution, these results pave the way for the creation of magnetic nanostructures and devices with the full potentiality of high-quality Co.