Single-step fabrication of oriented composite nanowires by pulsed laser deposition in magnetic field

In this work, we demonstrate a novel way of fabricating oriented composite nanowires consisting of arranged nanoparticles. The structures are produced by an advanced pulsed laser deposition technology involving the simultaneous ablation of two metal targets, Fe and Ag. The depositions are carried out in air at atmospheric pressure in the presence of a magnetic field by using nanosecond laser pulses delivered by a Nd:YAG laser system operating at its fundamental wavelength. Samples are thus produced composed by iron oxide and silver at different percentage ratios. Their morphology represents nanowires with few tens of microns in length and an orientation predominantly following the direction of the magnetic force lines. The study on the optical properties of the structures thus produced revealed plasmon resonance behavior in their transmission spectra with its position depending on the ratio between the two building materials. UV–vis spectra were also obtained with polarized light. Higher transmission was measured for light polarized perpendicular to the length of the nanowires, compared to the case of polarization parallel to the nanowires. The structures can find applications in the design of novel polarization and magneto-optics devices, as well as in nanoelectronics and spintronics.