Nanocap arrays of granular CoCrPt:SiO2 films on silica particles: tailoring of the magnetic properties by Co+ irradiation

An approach for tailoring the magnetic properties by ion irradiation of granular perpendicular CoCrPt:SiO2 films grown on silica particles with sizes down to 10 nm was investigated. The as-prepared samples reveal an intriguing scaling dependence of the coercive field and remnant magnetization: both parameters are found to decrease with decreasing particle size. However, Co+ irradiation at a low fluence of 0.5 x 10¹⁴ cm^-2 already results in an opposite scaling behavior. It is assumed that this modification is due to the enhancement of the intergranular magnetic exchange coupling of the granular CoCrPt:SiO2 film initiated by Co+ irradiation resulting in a modified reversal behavior. Further increase of the irradiation fluence beyond 1.6 x 10¹⁴ ions cm^-2 leads to a degradation of the magnetic layer properties, lowering the remnant magnetization and the coercive field in the easy-axis direction. Moreover, the local magnetic properties of the samples were analyzed by magnetic force microscopy revealing magnetic multi-domain cap structures.