Anodic alumina template assisted growth of Co nano-wires

Anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) template with hexagonal shaped nano-pores with high aspect ratio was fabricated by two-step anodization processes from high purity aluminium foil. Structural investigations by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) indicated that pore dimensions were affected by anodizing voltage, electrolyte temperature and the duration of anodization time. The vertical growth rate of the pores (10-250 nm/min) was found to vary exponentially with the anodizing voltage; however it exhibits linear increment with the electrolyte temperature. The measured pore diameter (50- 130 nm) shows a linear variation with anodizing voltage. AAO template assisted growth of Co nano-wires have been carried out electrochemically using galvanostatic method. The structural investigations were carried out using FESEM and X-Ray diffractions. Cross-sectional elemental mapping using Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX) confirms the growth of high density Co nano-wires through pore structures. Magnetic characterization was carried out to study in-plane and out-of-plane hysteresis behaviour and the coercive fields