Characterization of magnetic switching behavior of Py and SmCo nanocap thin films fabricated by drop-casting method.*

Curved magnetic thin films produce exotic magnetic states from geometry-induced anisotropy that form interesting magnetic domains. There are various techniques that aim to create close-packed monolayer templates for thin films, and this study focuses on using the slope-assembly method for monolayers based on parameters such as temperature, solution concentrations, angle of incline, and nanosphere diameter. Dropped nanosphere solutions on the hydrophilic silicon substrate were dried at temperatures ranging from 20-60 °C, at angles between 5-50 °, and with nanosphere diameters of 200 and 400 nm with ethanol concentrations between 10-30%. Permalloy (Py) or Samarium Cobalt (SmCo) were deposited on the nanosphere template to produce nanocap structures and their magnetic characteristics were studied. Uniformity of the nanocap structures were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscope images. Among the parameters varied for slope-assembly method, the most critical parameter controlling the uniformity turns out to be temperature. Lastly, magneto optical Kerr effect (MOKE) hysteresis loops were measured and compared between samples with different parameters and uniformity.