In this paper the formation of 3-D structures composed of Co nanoparticles (NPs) is reported. Structures were obtained by drying a droplet of a colloidal solution of NPs in a magnetic field perpendicular to the substrate. The Co nanoparticles were prepared by thermolysis of CO2(CO)(8). The 3-D NP structures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic and magnetic force microscopy (AFM/MFM). It has been found that at the border of the droplet, NPs assemble into hexagonally ordered 3-D columns or they form a labyrinthine structure. The formation of the 3-D structures can be explained by the outflow of NPs to the border of the droplet during the drying process. Within this model the pattern formation is dependent on the concentration of the NPs and the degree of alignment of the magnetic moments of NPs in the 3-D columns. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All fights reserved.