Preparation and magnetic property of Fe nanowire array

Fe was electrodeposited into the holes of porous anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) which was prepared electrochemically. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra illustrated that the deposited material was alpha -Fe. TEM observation showed that the aspect ratio of the nanowires was larger than 1000. The diameter of the wire was about 35 nm corresponding to that of the holes in the AAO. Magnetic measurements of the Fe nanowire array showed that its easy magnetization direction is perpendicular to the sample plane. This kind of nanowire array has potential applications in perpendicular magnetic recording. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.