We explore electrodeposited ordered arrays of Fe, Ni and Co nanorods embedded in anodic alumina membranes as a source of intense magnetic stray field gradients localized at the nanoscale. We perform a multiscale characterization of the stray fields using a combination of experimental methods (Magneto-optical Kerr effect, Virtual Bright Field Differential Phase Contrast Imaging) and micromagnetic simulations, and establish a clear correlation between the stray fields and the magnetic configurations of the nanorods. For uniformly magnetized Fe and Ni wires the field gradients vary following Page 2 of 33 ACS Paragon Plus Environment ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 3 saturation magnetization of corresponding metal and the diameter of the wires. In the case of Co nanorods, very localized (~10 nm) and intense (> 1T) stray field sources are associated with the cores of magnetic vortexes. Confinement of that strong field at extremely small dimensions leads to exceptionally high field gradients up to 10 8 T/m. These results demonstrate a clear path to design and fine-tune nanoscale magnetic stray field ordered patterns with a broad applicability in key nanotechnologies, such as nanomedicine, nanobiology, nanoplasmonics and sensors.

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