Controlled synthesis and characteristics of large‐area and high‐filling nickel nanowires arrays in AAO template

Abstract

The regular and uniform size of nickel nanowires arrays has been successfully fabricated inside the nanochannels of anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) template by a simple paired cell method. The morphology, composition and structure of the nanowire arrays were characterised by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that Ni nanowires possess smooth surface and high aspect ratio up to 15 with a diameter of 70-80 nm. Nearly 100% of the pores were filled by Ni nanowires, which have face centre cubic structure and [111] preferential orientation. Magnetisation measurement revealed that the nickel nanowires arrays have a unique soft magnetic property with small coercivity (Hc) of 11.38 Oe. A 3D self-seed nucleation coalescent process was proposed for the formation of nickel nanowires structures. The simple synthetic route is expected to be applied to the synthesis of other highly ordered metal nanowires arrays.