On low-temperature ordering of FePt nanowires

In this study, we have fabricated by electrodeposition FePt ordered nanowires through the use of ordered nanopore anodized aluminum oxide templates. The scanning electron microscopy studies show that FePt nanowires about 50 nm in diameter are uniformly embedded into anodic alumina-nanoholes. Nevertheless, as-deposited and annealed in vacuum films exhibit a magnetization much lower than expected. Changes of the annealing atmosphere from vacuum to hydrogen bring about the improvement of the L10 FePt properties because of the reduction of Fe oxide in the as-deposited films. The coercivity of 1.8 KOe is achieved by post-annealing at less than 300 °C in hydrogen.