Development on self-assembly technique for arrangement of chemically synthesized FePt nanoparticles

This paper reviews our study of bit patterned media (BPM) using L1 ₀ (face centered tetragonal)-FePt nanoparticles. For the practical use of L1₀-FePt nanoparticles to BPM, some breakthroughs are required: a highly ordered two-dimensional array of nanoparticles on a substrate, a controlled orientation of the axis of easy magnetization in vertical direction on a substrate. Previously, we reported about the achievement for uniformity FePt nanoparticles by controlling chemical synthesis conditions. Moreover, we confirmed the selective chemical interaction Pt in the surface of FePt nanoparticles and SH group with (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTMS). This study presented a new hybrid technique combining the selective chemical bonding and a substrate with a geometrical grid in order to control the array of FePt nanoparticles with uniform direction of their magnetization. We succeed in preparing uniform array of nanoparticles on geometrical grid with size of 200 nm square prepared using ultraviolet nanoimprint lithography (UV-NIL).