Temperature dependence of magnetization reversal in Co and Fe3O4 nanowire arrays

In this paper, we investigate the magnetization reversal of cobalt and magnetite nanowires, 4 nm in diameter, synthesized within the pores of mesoporous silica thin films. A SQUID magnetometer was used to study the magnetic properties of the nanowire arrays over a broad temperature interval, T=1.8-300 K. The magnetization reversal process was found to be strongly temperature dependent. While a coherent rotation may occur at room temperature, a process involving the formation of domain structures takes place as the temperature decreases down to 1.8 K.