Structural and magnetic properties of electrodeposited Ni nanowires

Ni nanowires of diameter 250 nm and 15 μm length have been fabricated by electrodeposition, using two-electrode electrochemical cell, filling of highly ordered nanoporous alumina membrane. The formation of Ni nanowires has been ascertained by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) while the chemical composition has been analyzed with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The structural characteristic of the wires was examined using X-ray diffraction showing (1 1 1) and (2 0 0) peaks of Ni. The magnetic state of individual nanowires was investigated by magnetic force microscope (MFM). The magnetic behavior of the array has been carried out at room temperature using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The obtained coercivity values of the wires were 47.2 and 27.3 kA/m when the applied field is perpendicular and parallel to the array surface, respectively. The remanence value, as evident from the hysteresis loops, is larger for the field applied along the wire axis.