Research articlesPatterned FePt nanostructures using ultrathin self-organized templates

•Using ultrathin AAO as an etching mask, large area FePt nano-arrays were obtained.•The nano-arrays replicate the structural features and spatial ordering of the AAO.•The easy axis and perpendicular anisotropy were retained for the nano-arrays.•The method can be extended to fabricating nano-patterns of a variety of materials.

Patterned magnetic thin films are both scientifically interesting and technologically useful. Ultrathin self-organized anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template can be used to fabricate large area nanodot and antidot arrays. The magnetic properties of these nanostructures may be tuned by the morphology of the AAO template, which in turn can be controlled by synthetic parameters. In this work, ultrathin AAO templates were used as etching masks for the fabrication of both FePt nanodot and antidot arrays with high areal density. The perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of L10 FePt thin films are preserved in the nanostructures.