Electrodeposition of Fe-based Magnetic Alloy Nanowires

Abstract

The electrochemical fabrication of nanowires of the Fe-based magnetic alloys Co-Fe, Fe-Ga and Fe-Pd is reported. Co-Fe is deposited potentiostatically from a simple sulfate electrolyte. The influence of chemical composition, diameter and length of the wires on the magnetic properties of both single wires and arrays of wires embedded in the AAO matrix is discussed. The more challenging Fe-Ga and Fe-Pd alloys required the development of new electrolyte compositions. In order to obtain homogeneous nanowires with the desired composition and length alternating potential pulses were applied and the pulse potentials had to be adjusted.