Method and system for preparation of a nanowire composite based on electroplating

A system for making magnetic nanowire components, the system comprising:

• a chamber configured to confine an ionic fluid, the chamber having a perimeter wall with a bottom surface having an aperture providing fluid communication between an interior of the chamber and an exterior of the chamber, and a flange physically coupled to the bottom surface, the flange extending circumferentially outward from and parallel to the circumference of the aperture of the chamber;
• a porous template having a pore length on the order of 100 microns, the porous template configured such that at least a portion of a first side of the porous template is exposed to the ionic fluid through the aperture when the ionic fluid is present in the chamber;
• an anode disposed within the chamber at a constant distance from the first side of the porous template;
• a reference electrode disposed inside of the chamber through a port in the perimeter wall of the chamber, the reference electrode positioned at a fixed distance from the porous template;
• a cathode in contact with a second side of the porous template, the second side of the porous template being opposite the first side of the porous template, the first and second sides of the porous template being planar;
• a stirring element inside of the chamber, the stirring element at a constant distance from the porous template and physically coupled to a motor configured to cause the stirring element to rotate, the stirring element further being between the anode and the cathode;
• a voltage source electrically coupled to the anode and to the cathode and configured to apply a voltage across the anode and the cathode;
• and
• a template mounting assembly comprising (i) a supporting plate selectively attachable to the flange by a plurality of fasteners spaced to provide a constant pressure and uniform electric field across the porous template and (ii) a selectively removable maskplate disposed between the supporting plate and the aperture, and wherein the supporting plate is aligned to the cathode and physically supports the cathode and the porous template between the supporting plate and the mask plate, in relative positions at constant distances from the anode.