Microscopic structure and magnetic behavior of arrays of electrodeposited Ni and Fe nanowires

Arrays of Ni and Fe nanowires with length up to 6 μm were fabricated by voltage controlled electrodeposition within track etched polycarbonate membranes with nominal pore diameter 50 nm, using dc or pulsed voltage. Magnetostatic interactions between wires are found to be important in determining magnetic properties and switching processes. Ni arrays switch by quasicoherent rotation when the magnetic field is applied near to the average wire axis, and by curling at large angles. The importance of curling processes increases with wire length, due to the larger demagnetizing field. The properties of Fe wires are dominated by magnetostatic interactions; these arrays switch by curling and no definite easy axis is observed in pulse-plated, amorphous wires.