Structure, composition and enhanced magnetic properties of novel ternary multicore-shell Ni–Co–Cr nanoclusters prepared by one-step inert gas condensation method

Highlights: • Ni–Co–Cr core-shell nanocluster using DC magnetron sputtering through IGC method. • Strong ferromagnetic behavior below the blocking temperature of 139 K. • Strong magnetic stripe domains with weak magnetic force microscopy signal attenuation. We have synthesized ternary Ni–Co–Cr nanoclusters using one step method by simultaneous sputtering of metallic targets through inert gas condensation (IGC) deposition process. The difference in surface energy between the component atoms creates a preferential surface phase leading to the formation of multi core/shell structures. Surface structure and composition analysis reveal metallic and oxide phases characterized by extraordinary 1.43 μm periodicity strong magnetic stripe domains with weak magnetic force microscopy signal attenuation up to a lift height value of 2.5 μm. In addition, the ternary nanoclusters exhibit strong ferromagnetic behavior below the blocking temperature of 139 K with coercivity of 700 Oe at 4 K. The enhanced magnetic properties are attributed to Volmer-Weber growth mechanism and pave a facile way for preparing ternary core/shell magnetic structures needed for applications which require strong magnetic anisotropy along their growth direction.