X-ray diffraction analysis and magnetic behavior of amorphous Fe15Co17Ni58B10 nanowires obtained by electrochemical deposition

Abstract

Fe 15 Co 17 Ni 58 B 10 nanowire arrays have been deposited in alumina templates by electrochemical deposition. For comparison, the same alloy was used to deposit films on CuBe substrate. The change in boron concentration from 3% to 10% in the electrolyte promoted the amorphous phase in the films on the CuBe substrate and a partial amorphous phase in the nanowires. Thermal treatment of the deposited films and nanowire arrays at 600°C promoted recrystallization. Magnetic hysteresis loops for 100 and 200nm nanowire arrays are “wasp waisted.” There is no evidence of a sharp reversal for the out-of-plane or in-plane hysteresis loops, just a smooth curve indicating a coherent rotation during the magnetization reversal. Annealing the 200nm nanowire array at 600°C for 1h gives rise to a mixed hysteresis loop, which can be attributed to competing domain configurations. An alternative explanation for this behavior is that there might be a phase separation between Fe, Ni, and Co in the nanowire environment due to the short range ordering of the alloy.