Synthesis and characterization of high aspect ratio NiFe2O4 nanowire

•Highly ordered NiFe2O4 nanowires were successfully grown via a template sol–gel route.•The single phase NiFe2O4 nanowires were achieved after calcination at 600 °C.•The high aspect ratio nanowires exhibited shape magnetic anisotropy.

Highly ordered nickel ferrite nanowires were successfully grown via a sol–gel chemical route using an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template. The thermal decomposition of the gel and phase evolution were investigated to determine the appropriate calcination temperature. The X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results showed the single phase NiFe2O4 nanowires can be achieved after calcination at 600 °C. Furthermore, the defect free NiFe2O4 nanowires with the high aspect ratio of about 600 exhibited shape magnetic anisotropy.