Structural and magnetic properties of electrodeposited cobalt nanowires in polycarbonate membrane

Abstract

Abstract We analyzed the structural and magnetic properties of an array of electrodeposited cobalt nanowires grown in polycarbonate membrane with pore size 50 nm diameter and thickness ≤6 μm. The current‐time profiles were recorded during the deposition, in order to estimate and understand the growth rate and mechanism of the cobalt nanowires respectively. The formation of single and multi‐domains in the nanowires was explained by using simple domain model assumptions. The X‐ray diffraction patterns show that the cobalt nanowires were grown in a mixture of fcc and hcp phases. The magnetic properties of the deposited nanowires show that the preferential magnetization orientation close to the perpendicular direction of the nanowire axis. The structural properties of the nanowires were observed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The magnetic properties were analyzed by Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) at room temperature. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)