Terabit density cobalt nanowire arrays with tunable magnetic properties

Abstract

Nanoporous templates made from diblock copolymer films are used for electrochemical fabrication of hexagonal arrays of vertical cobalt magnetic nanowires at terabit/in2 density. The nanowire diameter and areal density are determined by the copolymer molecular weight, whereas the nanowire length and internal crystal morphology are controlled through the dc electrodeposition growth process. The array magnetic properties can be modified substantially by electrodeposition pH conditions while keeping wire size and interwire distance constant. Optimum pH control results in preferential growth of c-axis oriented crystallites with large perpendicular coercivity. The appearance of exchange bias behavior, exhibited at low temperatures, is also investigated.