Structural and magnetic properties of Co and Co71Ni29 nanowire arrays prepared by template electrodeposition

A comparative study on the structural and magnetic properties of Co and Co₇₁Ni₂₉ nanowire arrays prepared by AC electrodeposition in alumina templates has been presented. The Co and Co₇₁Ni₂₉ nanowires observed by SEM and TEM have a 45 nm diameter and exhibit high aspect ratio. Also, the nanowires of both Co and Co₇₁Ni₂₉, determined by XRD, have an identical crystallographic structure. The Co₇₁Ni₂₉ nanowires exist in a cobalt solid solution. Both the as-obtained Co and Co₇₁Ni₂₉ nanowire arrays measured by VSM show obvious magnetic anisotropy, dominated by shape anisotropy. Compared to the Co nanowire arrays, Co₇₁Ni₂₉ nanowire array shows an enhanced coercivity Hc (⊥) and approximate square ratio Mr/Ms(⊥).