Microemulsions for obtaining nanostructures by means of electrodeposition method

The electrodeposition in microemulsions has been demonstrated to be useful in preparing new magnetic micro/nanostructures whose shape is controlled by the microemulsion structure. CoNi micro/nanostructures of different shape and magnetic properties have been prepared. The properties of these structures have been compared with those of the continuous thin films obtained in aqueous solution with and without the surfactant selected to prepare the microemulsions. The presence of the surfactant (Triton X-100) induces a decrease of 70% in the value of the coercivity of the films. When electrodeposition is performed in bicontinuous microemulsion, this evolves into a percolated W/O (water in oil) and later into a non-percolated W/O microemulsion phase due to the ion consumption. These three types of microemulsion lead to porous films, small nanoparticles and aggregates of nanoparticles, respectively. Important changes in magnetic properties have been detected, related to the different composition and the shape of the nanostructures.

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► Electrodeposition in microemulsions for architectural growth of magnetic alloys.
► Control of the electrodeposition conditions in the low conductive microemulsions.
► Modulation of magnetic properties due to the different composition and shape.