Characterization of electrodeposited Ni and Ni80Fe20 nanowires

Abstract In this work we use nanoporous alumina substrates as templates for the growth of Ni and Ni80Fe20 nanowires. Our membranes were obtained by a two-step anodization process of high-purity aluminum foils: first anodizations were performed at 40 V for 15 h in 0.3 M oxalic acid, at 2–6 °C; the second anodization was carried out using the same conditions for 30 min, resulting in pore lengths of ∼1.3 μm. After the second anodization, the pore bottom barrier-layer was thinned, to allow the current to flow through electron tunneling. A pulsed electrodeposition method was then used to grow Ni and Ni80Fe20 nanowires. Transport characterization and isothermal magnetization measurements performed on the produced arrays are presented.