Dominance of Shape Anisotropy among Magnetostatic Interaction and Magnetocrystalline Anisotropy in Electrodeposited (FeCo)1−xCux (X = 0.1–0.5) Ternary Alloy Nanowires

Abstract

The (FeCo)1−xCux (X = 0.1–0.5) nanowire (NWs) arrays were synthesized through AC-electrochemical deposition in anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. The morphology and composition of the synthesized (FeCoCu) NWs were found from scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) that confirmed the diameter of the NWs is in the range of 50–60 nm and the composition of FeCoCu alloy NWs, respectively. The XRD measurement of the NWs was carried out in AAO templates along with Al-substrate. The FeCoCu alloy NWs show BCC phase along with reflection peak (311) in all samples which corresponds to Al-substrate. The crystallite size displays overall increasing trend confirmed through XRD using Scherrer equation. The magnetic analysis reveals that by increasing the Cu concentration in FeCoCu alloy NWs, the saturation magnetization and coercivity (Hc) decreased. The results of MH loops confirmed that easy axis lies along the NWs and hard axis perpendicular to the NWs due to dominance of shape anisotropy. Magnetization reversal mechanism occurs by nucleation mode with the motion of domain walls. The frequency-dependent dielectric analysis investigated thoroughly using impedance and the behavior of dielectric parameters has been examined using Maxwell-Wagner’s model and Koop’s theory. The value of dielectric constant decreases progressively with increasing frequency and vice versa. It is also observed that with increase in Cu concentration, the dielectric constant also decreases due to higher conductivity of Cu than Fe and Co.