Electrochemical fabrication, microstructure and magnetic properties of Sm₂Co₁₇/Fe₇Co₃ dual phase nanocomposite

By utilizing alternate electrochemical reaction, atomic migration and deposition of Fe, Co, Sm and other chemical substances in the electrochemical solution, a large number of Sm₂Co₁₇/Fe₇Co₃ dual phase nanowire arrays were carried out in the anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template with highly uniform and orderly. The Sm₂Co₁₇/Fe₇Co₃ dual phase nanowire arrays with diameter of 50 nm and length of 12 μm have the smooth surface and uniform diameter. The morphology and microstructure of annealed Sm₂Co₁₇/Fe₇Co₃ dual phase nanowires were observed and analyzed using SEM, TEM and HRTEM. Compared with single-phase nanowires, dual phase magnetic nanowires have higher coercivity and saturation magnetization. In this composite system, both the hard and the soft phases have a high Curie temperature, therefore, we believe that the Sm₂Co₁₇/Fe₇Co₃ dual phase nanowire arrays is a new type of high-temperature magnetic composites. - Highlights: • Sm₂Co₁₇/Fe₇Co₃ dual phase nanowires were prepared by electrochemical method. • The interface pinning is the main factor to improve anisotropy field of the nanowires. • The dual phase magnetic nanowires have higher coercivity and saturation magnetization