Preparation and manipulation of magnetic nanowire arrays of metals and their oxides

This paper reviews the latest progresses on preparation, operation, characterization, novel properties and applications of magnetic nanowire arrays. Several methods and the recent developments for preparing magnetic nanowires, such as sol-gel template synthetic, organic gel-thermal reduction, etc., are described. Based on the problems in the use of magnet nanowires, several ways of manipulating nanowires are emphasized, including the array and chain of isolated nanowires in a variety of suspensions, the self-assemble of free nanowires, and the capture of single nanowire under the control of external magnetic fields or electric fields. In addition, the novel properties and the trends on the applications of magnetic nanowires are put forward.