Fabrication of cobalt nanowires from mixture of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid and ethylene glycol using porous anodic alumina template

Porous anodic alumina template is synthesized by electrochemical anodization of aluminum and used to grow cobalt nanowires. The cobalt nanowires produced by direct current electrodeposition are characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and physical property measurement system. Test results indicate that the average diameter of cobalt nanowires is about 45 nm, which is generally the same as the pore diameter of porous anodic alumina template, and the cobalt nanowires electrodeposited from mixture of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid and ethylene glycol have a smoother surface and better magnetic properties than cobalt nanowires electrodeposited from aqueous solution, and they show a better squareness. Therefore it can be concluded that the cobalt nanowires electrodeposited from mixture of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid and ethylene glycol using porous anodic alumina template can be used as a perpendicular magnetic recording film. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.