Maghemite nanoparticles with very high AC-losses for application in RF-magnetic hyperthermia

Maghemite nanoparticles covalently coated with polyethylene glycol are investigated with respect to different loss processes in magnetic AC-fields. Transmission electron microscopy reveals a narrow size distribution which may be well approximated by a normal distribution (mean diameter 15.3 nm and distribution width 4.9 nm). Aqueous ferrofluids were characterised by DC-magnetometry, by measuring susceptibility spectra for a frequency range 20 Hz to 1 MHz and by calorimetric measurements of specific loss power (SLP) at 330 and 410 kHz for field amplitudes up to 11.7 kA/m. Extremely high values of SLP in the order of 600 W/g result for 400 kHz and 11 kA/m. In addition to liquid ferrofluids measurements were performed with suspensions in gel in order to elucidate the role of Brownian relaxation. The measured susceptibility spectra may be well reproduced by a model using a superposition of Néel and Brown loss processes under consideration of the observed narrow normal size distribution. In this way the observed very high specific heating power may be well understood. Results are discussed with respect to further optimisation of SLP for medical as well as technical RF-heating applications.