Synthesis and magnetic properties of Ni–Fe/Cu/Co/Cu multilayer nanowire arrays

Ni–Fe/Cu/Co/Cu multilayer nanowire arrays were successfully electrodeposited into pores of an AAO template using a three-bath method. TEM and SEM were used to characterize structure and morphology of multilayered nanowire arrays. The results indicate that layer thickness is very uniform and multilayered structure is clear and regular. Multilayered nanowire arrays are highly ordered. Average diameter of multilayered nanowires is about 120 nm, which is the same as pore diameter of AAO templates. Vibrating sample magnetometer and physical property measurement system reveal that magnetic coercivity in an applied magnetic field perpendicular to surface of AAO templates is larger than the coercive field parallel to the surface of AAO templates. CPP GMR of Ni–Fe/Cu/Co/Cu nanowire arrays is affected by change of copper layer thickness.