Improvement in the microstructure and magnetic properties in arrays of dc pulse electrodeposited Co nanowires induced by Cu pre-plating

Co nanowire arrays were pulse electrodeposited into nanoporous alumina templates via the dendrite pores of a thinned barrier layer formed by exponentially non-equilibrium anodization, either without or with Cu pre-plating. Electrolyte acidity (pH) dependence of the microstructure and magnetic properties of the prepared Co nanowires was investigated and compared. The process of Cu pre-plating prior to electrodeposition of Co nanowires along with an adjustment of the pH value was shown to significantly improve the magnetic properties of the Co nanowires and ultimately result in a high coercivity (about 3000 Oe) and squareness up to 98% at pH similar to 5.7. The improvement of magnetic properties may be caused by the rotation of the hexagonal close packed c-axis of more crystal grains along with the wire axis, which supplements the shape anisotropy of the nanowires. The angular dependence of the coercivity (H-c(theta)) of both types of prepared Co nanowires was also studied.