Flux-closure domains in high aspect ratio electroless-deposited CoNiB nanotubes

We report the imaging of magnetic domains in ferromagnetic CoNiB nanotubes with very long aspect ratio, fabricated by electroless plating. While axial magnetization is expected for long tubes made of soft magnetic materials, we evidence series of azimuthal domains. We tentatively explain these by the interplay of anisotropic strain and/or grain size, with magneto-elasticity and/or anisotropic interfacial magnetic anisotropy. This material could be interesting for dense data storage, as well as curvature-induced magnetic phenomena such as the non-reciprocity of spin-wave propagation.