Large enhancements of magnetic anisotropy in oxide-free iron nanoparticles

Todd C. Monson, Eugene L. Venturini, Valeri Petkov, Yang Ren, Judith M. Lavin, Dale L. Huber

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Magnetic characterization of spherical, oxide-free, bcc iron nanoparticles synthesized with β-diketone surfactants has been performed. The results of this characterization, which included particles with diameters ranging between 2 and 5 nm show that the nanoparticles have an average anisotropy of 1.9×106±0.3×106 J/m3, which is more than an order of magnitude greater than the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of bulk iron. Despite their unusually large anisotropy, these particles can have saturation magnetizations of up to 210 A m2/kg (slightly lower than bulk iron). High-energy X-ray diffraction data indicates that the Fe particles have a distorted bcc lattice, which could, at least in part, explain the magnetic behavior of these nanoparticles. Dipolar coupling between particles, while present, is weak and cannot account for the high anisotropy of these nanoparticles.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)156-161
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
Volume331
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2013

Keywords

  • Anisotropy
  • Iron
  • Nanoparticle
  • Pair distribution function
  • Superparamagnetism

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