Morphological and local magnetic properties of cobalt clusters electrodeposited onto indium tin oxide substrates.

Magnetic force microscopy was employed in order to investigate the local magnetic distribution of individual cobalt clusters electrodeposited onto indium tin oxide surfaces. In addition, the size and shape of the clusters were analyzed by using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy at various electrodeposition potential values or growth stages. From these results, the cluster magnetic state at different cluster dimensions was identified and the critical cluster size for the magnetic transition from the single to the multi domain state was obtained. By analyzing the local magnetic states of the aggregates in terms of a theoretical single-domain ferromagnetic model, various magnetic parameters were inferred. Finally, in order to validate the experimental results, a micromagnetic simulation study was employed which correctly confirmed the experimental magnetic transition diagram, and also, provided some insights of other intrinsic magnetic properties of the aggregates.