Growth and Magnetic Properties of Polycrystalline Self-Assembled Bifurcated Co Nanowires

We use anodization of aluminum foil with variable applied anodization voltage to create an alumina template with bifurcated porous structures. The template is then used to electrodeposit Co, fabricating unique bifurcated Co nanowires. In order to better understand the crystal structure of our new material, we then report magnetic properties of these self-assembled bifurcated Co nanowires. Magnetic measurements of the bifurcated wires are studied as functions of branch/stem ratios, wire length, and temperature. The results are compared with those of straight Co nanowires of similar dimensions and thin film Co samples to find that a different crystal lattice structure prevails in the stems than in the branches of the wires. Copyright (C) 2008 Jesse Silverberg et al.