Characterization of electrodeposited Ni and Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ nanowires

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.