Seeded Growth of Ferrite Nanoparticles from Mn Oxides: Observation of Anomalies in Magnetic Transitions

by Song, H.-M., Zink, J. I., Khashab, N. M.
Year: 2015

Bibliography

Song, H.-M.; Zink, J. I.; Khashab, N. M. Seeded Growth of Ferrite Nanoparticles from Mn Oxides: Observation of Anomalies in Magnetic Transitions. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2015,17, 18825-18833

Abstract

A series of magnetically active ferrite nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared by using Mn oxide NPs as seeds. A Verwey transition is identified in Fe3O4 NPs with an average diameter of 14.5 nm at 96 K, where a sharp drop of magnetic susceptibility occurs. In MnFe2O4 NPs, a spin glass-like state is observed with the decrease in magnetization below the blocking temperature due to the disordered spins during the freezing process. From these MnFe2O4 NPs, MnFe2O4@MnxFe1−xO core–shell NPs are prepared by seeded growth. The structure of the core is cubic spinel (Fd[3 with combining macron]m), and the shell is composed of iron–manganese oxide (MnxFe1−xO) with a rock salt structure (Fm[3 with combining macron]m). Moiré fringes appear perpendicular to the 〈110〉 directions on the cubic shape NPs through the plane-matched epitaxial growth. These fringes are due to the difference in the lattice spacings between MnFe2O4 and MnxFe1−xO. Exchange bias is observed in these MnFe2O4@MnxFe1−xO core–shell NPs with an enhanced coercivity, as well as the shift of hysteresis along the field direction.

Keywords

Ferrite Nanoparticles