Characterization of cobalt nanowires by means of force microscopy

In this paper, an experimental study on both the electrolytic growth and the magnetic properties of cobalt nanowires is presented. The wires were electrodeposited into the pores of track-etched polymer membranes, having a diameter ranging from 80 up to 250 nm depending on the size of the pores. The filling of the pores was monitored combining the measurement of the electrolytic current-time curves with atomic force microscopy imaging (AFM). After dissolving the membranes, the magnetic domain structure of isolated nanowires was visualized by means of magnetic force microscopy (MFM) showing a multidomain pattern. The results are analyzed considering that the c axis of the HCP-Co crystallites is mainly perpendicular to the wire axis.