Discerning the magnetization reversal mechanism and magnetic interactions in arrays of FeNi nanowires

FeNi nanowires (NWs), 40 nm in diameter, were grown by electrodeposition. Compositional analysis showed Fe anomalous co-deposition, with different trends across the different potentials and electrolytes used. Those trends were explained within a modified Bocris-Drazic-Despic chemical reactions model, highlighting the importance of the electrochemical theory in understanding Fe-Ni electrodeposited systems. Structural characterization showed a change from a body-centred cubic structure for Fe-rich NWs to face-centred cubic at mid and low Fe content. Magnetic hysteresis measurements showed a range of coercivities from 20 mT for Fe-rich to 100 mT for Ni-rich NWs. Angular measurements allowed to determine that the magnetization reversal mechanism was dominated by transverse domain wall reversal. The analysis also hinted at the non-shape anisotropy acting as a demagnetizing force. First-order reversal curves (FORCs) showed that arrays with a high absolute value for the non-shape anisotropy had higher magnetic interactions, and vice versa. The non-shape anisotropy is dominated by the magnetostatic interactions between NWs, causing a weakening of the magnetic hardness. In combination with the coercivity angular measurements, the FORC analysis explained the shift in easy axis preference depending on NW chemical composition observed in the hysteresis loops of the samples.