Grazing incidence X-ray scattering showing self-organized regular three-dimensional nanopillar-like structures

Self-organized Co nanoclusters are grown by sequential sputtering in the form of nanopillars separated by Au. Using grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering from these nanopillar-like structures, we could observe a distinct signature of regular near-neighbor ordering of the first order, commonly observed only in patterned nanostructures. The magnetic response of these nanopillars-like structures with high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy indicates variation of cluster sizes along the stack and thereby shows a non-superparamagnetic clustering effect.