Nanostructural characterisation of a thin film network of magnetic iron oxide

Nanostructured networks of maghemite formed by sputtering an iron target onto the surface of nanochannel alumina (NCA) templates have been studied using transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscope, and Magnetic force microscopic. It has been found that the roughness of NCA originates from its fabrication history and largely affected by the size and distribution of nanopores. Magnetic properties of the iron oxide network are influenced by the surface morphology of the underlying template.