Magnetic Properties of a Ni Nanonet Grown in Superfluid Helium under Laser Irradiation

A nanonet consisting of ultrathin Ni nanowires (diameter < 4 nm) and Ni nanoballs (diameter < 20 nm) has been grown through laser ablation of a Ni target in superfluid helium. At a low Ni concentration, the nanonet consists mainly of nanowires and manifests a rectangular magnetic hysteresis loop, while an increase in the Ni concentration results in an increase in both the concentration and diameter of the nanoballs. A decrease in hysteresis loop rectangularity is observed as the concentration of the nanoball increases. We show that the composition of the system can be determined from the changes in the magnetic hysteresis loop and the temperature dependence of magnetization. The significance of the work consists of the observation of evolution of magnetic properties of the ferromagnetic nanonet, while its composition varies from nanowires to a combined nanowires-nanoballs system.