Fabrication and magnetic behavior of chemical deposited Ni–P nanowire and nanotube arrays

Ni–P nanowire and nanotube arrays were fabricated by chemical deposition using porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) as templates at room temperature. The morphologies of Ni–P nanowires and nanotubes are obtained with field emission scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. X-ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction are used to study the phase structure and chemical composition. The influence of pretreatment for AAO template on the deposition of nanowires and nanotubes is studied by comparing the growth mechanisms between nanowires and nanotubes. M–H hysteresis loops determined by vibrating sample magnetometer indicate that the nanowire and nanotube arrays obtained possess obvious magnetic anisotropy.