Effect of boron concentration on the magnetic properties of (FeCoNi) 100−xBx (x=15 and 20 wt%) nanowire arrays

The Fe_14.5Co_16.5Ni₅₅B₁₅ and the Fe₁₃Co_15.5Ni_51.5B₂₀ ferromagnetic nanowires were deposited using the electrochemical deposition method. The structure of these nanowires was investigated using X-ray diffraction. Squid magnetometer was used to investigate the magnetic behavior. The hysteresis loops of 50 μm long nanowire arrays were studied as a function of boron concentration, nanowire diameter and field orientation. The competition between shape anisotropy and magnetostatic interactions played a vital role in determining the magnetic field necessary to saturate an array. The decrease in coercive field (H_c) and the squareness (SQ) of the hysteresis loop from 100 to 200 nm wire diameter for both types of compositions suggests the formation of multidomains in the nanowire.