Fabrication and Study of the Magnetic Properties of $(Fe_{30}Co_{70})_{100-x}Zn_{x}$ Nanowire Arrays

$(Fe_{30}Co_{70})_{100-x}Zn_{x}$ (0 ≤ x ≤ 10) nanowires with diameters of ≈ 37 nm have been fabricated by AC electrodeposition into pores of anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. The $Fe_{30}Co_{70}$ and Zn contents of the nanowires have been adjusted by varying the ratio of $Fe_{30}Co_{70}$ and Zn ion concentrations in the electrolyte. The effect of the Zn content and annealing on the magnetic properties (e.g., coercivity and squareness) of nanowires arrays have been investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and alternating gradient force magnetometer. X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that an increase in the concentration of Zn ions of the electrolyte results in significant reduction in coercivity and squareness. It was found that the magnetic properties of nanowires can be significantly improved by appropriate annealing process. The highest values for coercivity (2670 Oe) and squareness (0.99) have been obtained for nanowires electrodeposited using 95/5 and 98/2 $Fe_{30}Co_{70}:Zn$ concentrations at annealing temperatures of 575°C and 550°C, respectively.