Fabrication of amorphous Co and Co-P nanometer array with different shapes in alumina template by AC electrodeposition

Using the porous alumina film as a template, the arrays of Co and Co-P with different shapes have been fabricated by AC electrodeposition. The as-obtained samples have been characterized by AFM, TEM and EDS. The results indicate that a small amount of non-metallic phosphor added in the electrolyte has a notable influence on the morphologies of electrodeposited nanostructural materials. An array of pure cobalt nanowires can be obtained, however, a mixed array of Co-P nanowires and nanotubes doped 2.0 at.% phosphor can be produced when the electrolytic solution contains 5.0 g/L sodium hypophosphite (NaH₂PO₂–H₂O) during the process of electrodeposition. Furthermore, only a Co-P nanoparticle array can be synthesized when the sodium hypophosphite (NaH₂PO₂–H₂O,) was raised to 10.0 g/L in the electrolytic solution. Also, the Co and Co-P nanowires, nanotubes and nanoparticles obtained display identical amorphous structure.