Zhou et al. Nanoscale Research Letters 2011, 6:276 http://www.nanoscalereslett.com/content/6/1/276 Page 5 of 6 Figure 5 Magnetic hysteresis loops of the Co/InP nanocomposite structure when the magnetic filed is applied both parallel (circle) and perpendicular (solid line) to the surface of the InP template with deposition time of 5 min. Inset is the magnification curve. Conclusion We have reported in this article a novel Co/porous InP magnetic semiconductor nanocomposite based on electro- chemical deposition technique in ethanol solution of cobalt chloride. The ethanol solution effectively protects Co from oxidization, as confirmed by the XRD and EDS analyses. Granular Co prefers to uniformly distribute over the channel walls of the InP templates, which is different from the “bottom-up” mechanism of ceramic matrix and thereby may provide a new avenue for nanofabrication. With the increasing deposition time of Co, the size or con- tent of granular Co embedded in the InP template increases, and the magnetic behavior of such Co/InP nanocomposites shows gradual change from diamagnetism to ferromagnetism. The comparison of shape anisotropy effects to magnetocrystalline anisotropy effects helps one to explain the magnetic anisotropy of this novel Co/InP magnetic semiconductor nanocomposite, which may lead to new applications in the field of spin electronics. Abbreviations AAO: anodic alumina oxide; EDS: energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer; FE- SEM: field emission scanning electron microscope; M-H: field-dependent magnetization; SCE: saturated calomel electrode; XRD: X-ray diffraction. Acknowledgements This study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (grant NO. 10874115 and 10734020), National Major Basic Research Project of 2010CB933702, Shanghai Nanotechnology Research Project of 0952nm01900, Shanghai Key Basic Research Project of 08JC1411000, the Research fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of Chain, and the Graduate Innovative Ability Training Special Fund of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Author details 1Laboratory of Condensed Matter Spectroscopy and Opto-Electronic Physics, and Key Laboratory of Artificial Structures and Quantum Control (Ministry of Education), Department of Physics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People’s Republic of China 2School of Chemistry & Chemical Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People’s Republic of China Authors’ contributions TZ participated in the design of the study, carried out the experiments, performed the statistical analysis, as well as drafted the manuscript. DDC participated in the design of the study, carried out the experiments, and performed the statistical analysis. MJZ participated in the design of the study, provided the theoretical and experimental guidance, performed the statistical analysis, and revised the manuscript. LM participated in the design of experimental section and offered her the help in experiments. WZS gave his help in the setting up of experimental apparatus. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Received: 30 December 2010 Accepted: 31 March 2011 Published: 31 March 2011 References 1. Sun SH, Murray CB, Weller D, Folks L, Moser A: Monodisperse FePt nanoparticles and ferromagnetic FePt nanocrystal superlattices. Science 2000, 287:1989-1992. 2. Bao JC, Tie CY, Xu Z, Ma Q, Hong JM, Sang H, Sheng D: An array of concentric composite nanostructures of zirconia nanotubules/cobalt nanowires: preparation and magnetic properties. Adv Mater 2002, 14:44-47. 3. Billas IML, Châtelain A, De Heer WA: Magnetism from the atom to the bulk in iron, cobalt, and nickel clusters. Science 1994, 265:1682-1684.