Theoretical study of the morphology of self-assembled amphoteric oxide colloid nanocrystals in weak electrolyte solutions A V Alfimov, E M Aryslanova and S A Chivilikhin -Magnetic-field-induced 1st order transition to FFLO state at paramagnetic limit in 2D superconductors N A Fortune, C C Agosta, S T Hannahs et al. Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, School of Environmental Science, Nanjing, P.R. China E-mail: xiaozhuangxxc2010@126.com Abstract. Self-assembled films with needle-like microarrays were fabricated using a mixture of cobalt and fluorocarbon resin under a magnetic field. The various influences of magnetic powder content, viscosity and size distribution on the structure of the self-assembled films were investigated. The self-assembled film morphologies were characterized by stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscopy. Experimental results indicate that an increase in magnetic powder content results in greater unit height and diameter, and that a reduction in viscosity results in increasing array density and decreasing unit width. Additionally, particles with narrow size distribution were able to attain more regular microarray structures. The structural alterations were closely related to numerous effects such as van der Waals forces, dipole-dipole interactions, and external-dipole interactions. The self-assembled film demonstrated magnetic anisotropy, as identified by vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM).