Revolutionizing Magnetic Nanostructures: How Ion Beams Shape Magnetic Properties

Technological advancements in nanolithography now enable precise manipulation of magnetic properties at the nanoscale. Their innovative method leverages a titanium buffer layer to enhance the focused ion beam (FIB) process.
Our team from Department of Physics and Technology at nanoscale IEE SAS has unveiled new insights into the effect of ion beams on magnetic nanostructures. Using Ga⁺ focused ion beam (FIB), they created unique “snake-like” magnetic states in permalloy (Ni₈₀Fe₂₀) nanostructures without physically separating the elements.
A key innovation was the use of a titanium buffer layer, which enhanced cutting precision and minimized material redeposition. Numerical simulations and experiments revealed that even a minimal magnetic layer (3–5 nm) suffices for magnetic separation, opening avenues for spintronics and magnonics applications.
These findings, published in Results in Physics, pave the way for designing highly efficient, energy-saving magnetic devices.

Read the full article here

Authors: Sergei Krylev, Tetiana Kalmykova, Tomáš Ščepka, Vladimír Cambel