Electrochemical Synthesis of Co/Cu Nanowires

GMR EFFECT
Giant magnetoresistance (GMR) property is described as a change in
the material electrical resistance when an external magnetic field is
introduced.
This giant magnetoresistance effect is observed when ferromagnetic
elements are layered with nonmagnetic elements like chromium or
copper.

CIP & CPP - GMR

CIP-GMR is limited by the layer thickness, which has to be very
small, comparable to the electron mean free path in order to exhibit
GMR.
CPP-GMR is limited by another characteristic length called the
electron spin diffusion length, which is several times larger than the
electron mean free path.
CPP-GMR is governed by a larger electron travel length, it would
yield a larger resistance drop compared to the CIP-GMR that is limited
by the small electron mean free path.
path

Experimental
Experimental Setup

Chronoamperometry/
Chronoamperometry Pulse Plating
Cobalt reduction potential -1.3V for 35 s
Copper reduction potential -0.8 V for 15 s

Platinum wire was used as the anode (or counter electrode).

Saturated Ag/AgCl electrode functioned as the potential reference.
Membrane is not conductive by nature it was coated with silver solution on one side for electrical contact.
Main electrolyte for Co/Cu nanowire deposition was composed of CoSO4.7H2O (1 M), CuSO4.5H2O (0.015 M),
and Boric acid (0.4 M).
Electrolyte was set to a pH of 2.8 using Sulphuric acid (0.5 M).
Pulsed potential plating was carried out with a computer controlled Gamry Reference 600 Potentiostat.

Results
To check the morphology of the fabricated unetched Co/Cu nanowires SEM
was done.
To check concentration of copper and cobalt EDS was done.
For magnetic measurements, Vibrating Sample Magnetometer was done.

Applications
Manufactured materials that show GMR are used for perpendicular
magnetic recording and magnetic field sensors.
These magnetic materials are good candidates for computer disk drives,
audio-video tape heads, magnetometers, compass systems, etc

Conclusion
SEM images & EDS data clearly show the presence of Co/Cu
nanowires with less copper concentration at the pH value 2.8 within the
pores of the template.
VSM data clearly shows low coercivity Of Co/Cu nanowires. Therefore
these nanowires are soft magnetic materials.
materials

Thank You