Self-assembly synthesis and magnetic studies of Co–P alloy nanowire arrays

Abstract

The paper describes the self-assembly synthesis of Co–P alloy nanowire arrays in an anodic alumina membrane (AAM) by electroless deposition and presents their corresponding magnetic properties. The images of Co–P alloy nanowire arrays and single nanowires are obtained by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. Selected area electron diffraction, x-ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectra are employed to study the morphology and chemical composition of the nanowires. The results show that Co–P alloy nanowire arrays are amorphous. The magnetic properties of Co–P alloy nanowire arrays is characterized using a vibrating sample magnetometer. The hysteresis loops indicate that the easily magnetized direction of Co–P nanowire arrays is parallel to the nanowire arrays and has obvious magnetic anisotropy as a result of the shape anisotropies. Electroless deposition can be extended to many other materials and opens up significant opportunities in nanoscalar fabrication magnetic materials for ultra-high-density magnetic recoding media. Compared with the electrodeposition method, electroless deposition need not supply power or sprinkle Au on one side of the AAM before deposition and some defects of electrodeposition can be overcome.