The role of the crystal orientation (c-axis) on switching field distribution and the magnetic domain configuration in electrodeposited hcp Co–Pt nanowires

In this report, Co-Pt nanowires (NWs) were produced via potentiostatic electrodeposition into commonly used commercial ordered-alumina and disordered-polycarbonate membranes with similar pore diameters (approximate to 200 nm). The pore diameter of the membranes and the deposition conditions were chosen such that the Co-Pt NWs fabricated into both membranes had a hexagonal close packed (hcp) crystal structure with a crystallographic texturing of the c-axis in the direction perpendicular to the NWs' long axis; this effect was more pronounced in the alumina membranes. Due to the local fluctuation in electrodeposition conditions (pore diameter, pore shape), we have found a small variation in the c-axis orientations in the plane perpendicular to the NWs' long axis. Magnetic characterizations suggested that there is uniaxial anisotropy perpendicular to the Co-Pt NWs' long axis and the small variation in the orientation of the hcp c-axis plays an important role in the switching-field distribution and the magnetic domain structure of the Co-Pt NWs. First order reversal curves (FORCs) revealed week magnetostatic interactions between Co-Pt NWs, thus suggesting that the different pore alignments are not influencing much the magnetic properties in both membranes. The micromagnetic simulation revealed that the transverse-stripe (TS) and longitudinal stripe (LS) domains are energetically most favorable structures in such NWs. This study accentuates the influence of the crystal orientation (c-axis) of the high-anisotropy materials on their functional magnetic properties and thus is of great importance for the fabrication of nanodevices based on such NWs.