Magnetic Domain Texture in Fe <sub>3</sub> O <sub>4</sub> Thin Films on SiO <sub>2</sub> Nanospheres

M Mai Hussein Hamed (Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS‐2) JARA‐FIT, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Jülich Germany) Y Yifan Xu (Department of Chemistry) H Hebatalla Elnaggar M Mohamed Zaghloul A Antonio M. Mio (Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (IMM) Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) Strada VIII N. 5 Catania 95121 Italy) A Alicia Backs (European Spallation Source ERIC Partikelgatan 2 Lund 224 84 Sweden) A Annika Stellhorn (European Spallation Source ERIC Partikelgatan 2 Lund 224 84 Sweden) V Vitor de Oliveira Lima (Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS‐2) JARA‐FIT 52425 Jülich Germany) C Chenyang Yin (Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf Fakultät für Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften Düsseldorf Germany) C Connie Bednarski‐Meinke (Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS‐2) JARA‐FIT, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Jülich Germany) N Nina‐Juliane Steinke (Institut Laue‐Langevin 71 Avenue des Martyrs Grenoble Cedex 9 CS 20156 France) O Oleg Petracic (Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf Fakultät für Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften Düsseldorf Germany) T Thomas Brückel (Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS‐2) JARA‐FIT 52425 Jülich Germany) T Thomas Saerbeck A Asma Qdemat (Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS‐2) JARA‐FIT, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Jülich Germany)

Abstract

Abstract Topographically complex interfaces offer a promising route to engineer magnetic textures in oxide thin films, with potential implications for next‐generation spintronic and neuromorphic devices. Here, Fe 3 O 4 thin films are grown on self‐assembled SiO 2 nanospheres to investigate how local curvature, together with polycrystalline morphology, influence magnetic behavior compared to flat films. STEM and GISANS confirm connected growth with preserved lateral ordering, while XMCD‐PEEM reveals in‐plane magnetic domains that extend across both nanosphere‐patterned and flat regions. Despite the low net magnetization of the Fe 3 O 4 caps, their domain orientations align with neighboring flat areas, indicating correlated domain behavior across structurally different regions. These findings demonstrate how nanoscale topography and morphology can be leveraged as design parameters to modulate magnetism in complex oxides.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 8
Published February 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (15)

M

Mai Hussein Hamed

Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS‐2) JARA‐FIT, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Jülich Germany

Y

Yifan Xu

Department of Chemistry

H

Hebatalla Elnaggar

M

Mohamed Zaghloul

A

Antonio M. Mio

Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (IMM) Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) Strada VIII N. 5 Catania 95121 Italy

A

Alicia Backs

European Spallation Source ERIC Partikelgatan 2 Lund 224 84 Sweden

A

Annika Stellhorn

European Spallation Source ERIC Partikelgatan 2 Lund 224 84 Sweden

V

Vitor de Oliveira Lima

Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS‐2) JARA‐FIT 52425 Jülich Germany

C

Chenyang Yin

Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf Fakultät für Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften Düsseldorf Germany

C

Connie Bednarski‐Meinke

Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS‐2) JARA‐FIT, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Jülich Germany

N

Nina‐Juliane Steinke

Institut Laue‐Langevin 71 Avenue des Martyrs Grenoble Cedex 9 CS 20156 France

O

Oleg Petracic

Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf Fakultät für Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften Düsseldorf Germany

T

Thomas Brückel

Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS‐2) JARA‐FIT 52425 Jülich Germany

T

Thomas Saerbeck

A

Asma Qdemat

Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS‐2) JARA‐FIT, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Jülich Germany