Electrodeposition of Fe70Pd30 nanowires from a complexed ammonium–sulfosalicylic electrolyte with high stability

A highly stable plating bath for the electrodeposition of Fe–Pd nanowires into nanoporous alumina templates has been developed. Complexing of both metal ions and exchanging Fe2+ by Fe3+ avoid chemical reduction of Pd ions and, therefore, undesirable deposition. By using a pulse potential mode and appropriate adjustment of deposition potentials homogeneously filled templates without surface deposits and nanowires close to the desired composition of Fe70Pd30 have been achieved. These alloy nanowires represent a key step towards nanoactuators based on magnetic shape memory alloys.