Magnetic properties and Mössbauer spectroscopy of iron nanowire arrays prepared by electroless deposition in a magnetic field

One-dimensional magnetic iron (Fe) nanowire arrays with tunable diameters have been deposited in the pore channels of the anodised aluminium oxide (AAO) template using the electroless chemical method. The AAO template is processed by a facile and simple approach to etch an insulating alumina barrier layer in the base of the template. The morphologies and crystal structures of Fe nanowires are characterised by field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Mössbauer spectroscopy suggests that the nanowires are composed of ferromagnetic particles. The results of magnetic measurements by a superconducting quantum interference device indicate that the nanowire arrays have obvious magnetic anisotropy, and the easy magnetisation direction is oriented along the nanowire axial direction.