Fabrication of Ni–W–P nanowire arrays by electroless deposition and magnetic studies

Ni–W–P alloy nanowire arrays have been fabricated by electroless deposition in an anodic alumina membrane. The images of Ni–W–P nanowire arrays and single nanowires are obtained by scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope, respectively. Selected area electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectra are employed to study the morphology and chemical composition of the nanowires. The results indicate that Ni–W–P nanowire arrays are amorphous in structure. The magnetic property of Ni–W–P alloy nanowire arrays is characterized using a vibrating sample magnetometer. The hysteresis loops show that the easily magnetized direction of Ni–W–P nanowire arrays is parallel to the nanowire arrays and that it has obvious magnetic anisotropy as a result of the shape anisotropy. Electroless deposition opens up significant opportunities in the nanoscale fabrication of magnetic materials for ultra-high-density magnetic recoding.