Controlled Cu content of electrodeposited CoCu nanowires through pulse features and investigations of microstructures and magnetic properties

CoCu alloy nanowire arrays embedded in anodic alumina template were fabricated by ac pulse electrodeposition. Different off-times between pulses in an electrolyte with constant concentration of Co+2 and Cu+2 and acidity of 4 were employed. The effect of deposition parameters on the alloy contents, microstructures and magnetic properties of CoxCu1−x nanowires were studied. It is shown that Co content decreased by increasing the off-time between pulses in a wide range (x = 0.53–0.07). These results are in consistence with saturation magnetization, which was reduced with increase in the off-time between pulses. It was also found that by optimizing the off-times, it is possible to fabricate CoCu nanowires with mixed phase of hcp Co, fcc Cu and fcc CoCu crystal phase.