Magnetic properties of ordered arrays of iron nanowires: The impact of the length

The present study is focused on the investigation of the magnetic properties of hexagonally ordered iron nanowire arrays electrodeposited into anodic alumina templates. A series of 9 arrays of nanowires with a diameter of 52 nm, an interwire distance of 100 nm, and a length varying from 3.6 to 21.2 ?m is analyzed. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, SQUID magnetometry, and first-order reversal curves (FORC) analysis are used for the characterization of the nanowire arrays. The increase in coercivity with nanowire length is well described by a model of interacting wires, which are magnetized likely by a vortex domain wall mechanism. According to the width of distribution observed in the FORC diagrams, interaction fields decrease with increasing length, which supports the proposed model.

Automated summary

The research focuses on the investigation of the magnetic properties of hexagonally ordered iron nanowire arrays electrodeposited into anodic alumina templates. The increase in coercivity with nanowire length is well described by a model of interacting wires, likely magnetized by a vortex domain wall mechanism.