Nanosurface-confined anisotropic growth and magnetism of ellipsoidal alpha-Fe nanogranules.

We have investigated the nanosurface-confined anisotropic growth of ordered-ellipsoidal Fe nanogranules when an Fe plume was deposited at a slanting angle onto an anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) film. Layer-by-layer growth was also investigated. This growth is driven by two critical factors: (1) a new rhombic AAO cell and (2) the slanting deposition of the Fe plume.