Vortex matching effects in Nb thin films due to Ni nanopillars embedded in anodic aluminum oxide substrates

We describe a simple method for obtaining a dense array of ferromagnetic (Ni) nanowires in robust anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. The superconducting properties of Nb thin films subsequently deposited on these structures show an enhancement of the upper critical magnetic field as well as increase of the superconducting critical temperature in correspondence to the magnetic matching fields in the H-T phase diagram. © 2013 IOP Publishing Ltd.