Study On Electrochemical Regulation And Magnetic Properties Of Nickel Copper Alloy Nanowires

Alloy nanomaterials have many more excellent properties than elemental metal nanomaterials. Recently more attention is paid to them in the material research field. In this work, well-ordered Ni-Cu nanowires have been fabricated into the anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template using VERSASTAT3electrochemical workstation. The crystal structure of the nanowires is measured by x-ray diffractometer (XRD). Their morphology is investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). Energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) analysis is also performed in order to determine the composition. Magnetic properties are measured by vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM).Through the analysis of electrochemical deposition C-T curves, the phenomenon that the current is invariant with time is found. This shows that electrode process control step is not the liquid mass transfer process control, but electrochemical oxidation reduction process control during the electrodeposition Drocess of Ni-Cu nanowires. So we successfully obtain Ni3Cu20, Ni4Cu3, NiCu, Ni33Cu2o and Ni13Cu2nanowires by regulating electrodepostion potential. At the same time we find the electordeposition voltage has important effect on the composition of nanowires when the voltage is near-0.86V.If mass ratio of NiSO4·6H2O to CuSO4·5H2O is greater than8:1, Ni-Cu nanotubes are obtained; otherwise, nanowires are obtained. According to the magnetic hysteresis loops of Ni4Cu3nanowires for magnetic fields applied parallel and perpendicular to the nanowires axis, the result is found that there is apparent magnetic anisotropy in Ni4Cu3nanowires and the easy magnetization axis lies in the direction parallel to nanowires.Using the method of two steps oxidation with oxalic acid, we successfully get well-ordered AAO templates. When the time for opening hole is, respectively,150minutes240minutes, the diameter of the pores is50nm and80nm. NiCu6nanowires are fabricated smoothly into the AAO template of diameter～50nm. The diameter of nanowires in agreement with the diameter of template is also50nm.