Magnetic and magnetization properties of electrodeposited fcc CoPt nanowire arrays

Magnetic and magnetization properties of fcc Co1-xPtx (x <= 0.3) alloy nanowires fabricated by electrodeposition into self-synthesized anodic alumina templates are investigated. Magnetization curves, measured for varying wire geometries, show a crossover of easy axis of magnetization from parallel to perpendicular to the nanowire axis as a function of the diameter and length. The measured values of coercivity (H-c) and remanent squareness (SQ) of CoPt nanowire arrays, as a function of angle (theta) between the field and wire axis, support the crossover of easy axis of magnetization. The curling mode of the magnetization reversal process is observed for CoPt nanowire arrays. At low temperatures, the easy axis for magnetization of the nanowires is observed to deviate from the room-temperature orientation. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.