Ferromagnetic Fe$_{\mathrm{2}}$CrAl Nanowires

Heusler alloy Fe$_{\mathrm{2}}$CrAl (FCA) nanowires were grown on silicon substrates. Nanowires have diameters in the range 50 to 200 nm and lengths up to 100 \textmu m. They exhibit cubic L$_{\mathrm{21}}$ and A$_{\mathrm{2}}$ type structure with a space group, Pm m. Magnetic characterization reveals that they display ferromagnetic behavior and has a Curie temperature above 400 K. Magnetic behavior of FCA nanowires is different from the reported bulk behavior. Bulk FCA with L$_{\mathrm{21}}$ structure has a Curie temperature around 274 K.