The microstructure of electrodeposited cobalt-based nanowires and its effect on their magnetic and transport properties

The microstructure of Co in electrodeposited magnetic nanowires was characterised by X-ray diffraction and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). ii mixture of FCC and HCP Co was seen when electrodeposition was performed under standard conditions. Predominantly, HCP Co was obtained only when using electrolyte of low Co ions concentration at low deposition rate. When Cu ions were added to the Co electrolyte, the FCC phase of Co dominated. NMR investigations revealed that Cu was co-deposited in the form of dusters of about 20 atoms in the Co layers. The consequences of these observations on the transport and magnetic properties are discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.