Preparation of nickel nanowire within polycarbonate membrane and removing polycarbonate by KrF excimer laser

Nikel nanowire arrays were fabricated by potentiostatic electrodeposition into track-etched polycarbonate (PC) membranes. By electrochemical deposition of nickel, nanowires were grown in the single pores. The nanowires were contacted by sputtering a gold layer on top of the membrane. The distinct difference in laser ablation thresholds offers the selective material removal. After preparation of nanowires, polycarbonate membranes were irradiated by KrF excimer laser, 248 nm, at fluence of 0.13 J/cm2, at 1 Hz pulse repetition rate in order to remove polycarbonate. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were employed to characterize the structural and morphological properties of the nanowires. Magnetic properties of nanowires were measured through a magnetization hysteresis curves, using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM).  Key words: Electrodeposition, nanowires, nickel, nuclear track membrane, excimer laser.