Magnetic properties of electroless-deposited Ni and Ni-NiO core-shell nano-arrays

Ni and Ni-NiO core-shell nano-arrays were fabricated by means of electroless deposition, where the latter was covered by a NiO shell of ∼10 nm by annealing the former at 350 °C for 30 min in an atmospheric condition. HRTEM showed that the NiO shell was developed at the expense of Ni at the array's surface. Ferromagnetic ordering of the Ni-NiO arrays was found to be suppressed compared with those of the less oxidized reference Ni arrays. This is attributed to the screening effect of the NiO shell, and weak ferromagnetism of inner Ni arrays resulted from the development of the NiO. X-ray absorption spectrum reveals that the reference Ni is partially oxidized. Also, X-ray magnetic circular dichroism suggests that the magnetic suppression of the Ni-NiO arrays is associated with a reduced spin moment.