Synthesis and characterization of ferromagnetic nanowires using AAO templates

Abstract

Ferromagnetic (Ni, Co, Fe) nanowires were electrodeposited using AAO template. XRD analysis indicated that the ferromagnetic wires had preferred orientation. For longer deposition time, the nanowires with textured structure changed to single crystal. The investigation on the growth mechanism showed that in the initial stage, the nanowires were polycrystalline. Our TEM analysis revealed the transition from polycrystalline structure to single crystal from the bottom to the top. The growth mechanisms are probably due to the competition growth of the adjacent grains and the confinement of growth in the nano-sized hole of the AAO template. © 2008 World Scientific Publishing Company.