Magnetic properties of nanocrystalline BaFe12O19 prepared by hydrothermal method

Barium ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal method. The grain size of BaFe₁₂O₁₉ produced chemically at temperatures between 150 and 200 °C with a reaction time of 12 h varies from 9 to 15 nm. At 4.2 K a grain size independent coercive field of about 1.2 kOe was found. However, at 300 K, the coercivity changes from 230 Oe up to 590 Oe. The magnetization at 4.2 and 300 K increases linearly with grain size. In TEM images it can be seen, that the materials are composed of plate-like and stick-like particles. The amount of the stick-like particles increases with synthesis temperature. The low values of the coercivity at 300 K are discussed in terms of demagnetising field and the nearness of the blocking temperature. The increase of the magnetization with reaction temperature may be attributed to the increase of grain size.     

Fabrication and magnetic properties of Cu50(Fe69Si10B16C5)50 thin microwires

In this work, we study the granular samples of mixed Cu₅₀(Fe₆₉Si₁₀B₁₆C₅)₅₀ composition where half of alloy composition is commonly used amorphous soft magnetic material and the other half-Cu. Glass covered Cu₅₀(Fe₆₉Si₁₀B₁₆C₅)₅₀ microwires were produced and their magnetic properties were studied. The evolution of the structure after the annealing was observed using X-ray diffraction with Cu K_α radiation. The as-prepared Cu₅₀(Fe₆₉Si₁₀B₁₆C₅)₅₀ microwires present a relatively low coercivity of about 5 Oe and exhibit non-regular hysteresis loop typical behavior for two-phases systems. Annealing resulted in magnetic hardening of the samples with coercivity of about 50 Oe. The variation of the coercivity and remanent magnetization with the temperature at 5–300 K were obtained from those curves. Temperature dependence of magnetization at 5–300 K exhibits significant difference between field-cooled and zero-field cooled behaviour. Observed dependences interpreted in terms of two-phase structure of as-prepared samples and evolution of the structure under annealing.     

Growth of highly oriented crystalline α-Fe/AlN/Fe3N trilayer structures on Si(1 1 1) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy

We have realized highly oriented nitride-based α-Fe/AlN/Fe₃N ferromagnetic hybrid structures on Si(1 1 1) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy using AlN/SiC intermediate layers. A two-step hysteresis loop, typically observed in magnetic tunneling junctions, was clearly observed in magnetization versus magnetic field measurements. This result indicates the formation of ferromagnetic α-Fe and Fe₃N layers separated by 8-nm-thick AlN layers over approximately 1 cm² area, and also shows the difference in coercive field between the two ferromagnetic layers.     

Spin glass behavior in complexes of iron doped coordinated polymers

Magnetization measurements were performed on metal polycarbosilazane complexes polymers doped with Fe(II) and Fe(III)-ions. Zero field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) magnetization for Fe(II) doped polymer were found to bifurcates at a freezing temperature T_g, showing typical spin glass behavior but at much higher fields (～kOe) than what is commonly observed in metallic spin glass(～Oe). However, the ZFC magnetization of Fe(III) doped polymer did not reveal any spin-glass behavior. The magnetization curves showed very little Hysteresis effects and saturate at about 40 kOe at 2 K then drops sharply at 20 K. The saturation magnetization continues to drop gradually up to room temperature ～300 K.     

Magnetite nanoparticles prepared by the crystallization of Na2O–Fe2O3–B2O3–SiO2 glasses

A glass with the composition of 35Na₂O–24Fe₂O₃–20B₂O₃–20SiO₂–1ZnO (mol%) was melted, quenched, using a twin roller technique, and subsequently heat treated in the range 485–750 °C for 1–2 h. This led to the crystallization of magnetite as the sole or the major crystalline phase.Heat treatment at lower temperatures resulted in the crystallization of magnetite crystals 7–20 nm in diameter, whereas heat treatment at higher temperatures produced higher quantities of magnetite and much larger crystals. The room temperature magnetization and coercive force values were in the range of 6–57 emu g^? 1 and 0–120 Oe, respectively for the heat treated glasses.     

Development of quaternary Fe-based bulk metallic glasses with high saturation magnetization above 1.6 T

Quaternary Fe-based ferromagnetic bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) with saturation magnetization above 1.6 T were successfully fabricated in Fe–Si–B–P alloy system by copper mold casting. These BMGs exhibit low coercive force of 1.6–1.9 A/m, high effective permeability of 16,500–17,200 and low core loss. In additional, these BMGs exhibit good mechanical properties as well, i.e., high strength of 3200 MPa and plasticity of 1.1%. They are promising to be used as magnetic functional and structural materials in the future.     

Study of magnetoimpedance effect of Co-based amorphous ribbons after current annealing at various kinds of ambient pressure

The physical properties of magnetic amorphous alloys can be improved by using different annealing processes. In this paper, for annealing purposes, different driving currents were flowed through Co-based magnetic amorphous ribbons at different ambient air pressures between 5 × 10^?5 mbar and 10³ mbar. The magnetoimpedance effect in the annealed samples was studied at a frequency interval between 250 kHz and 10 MHz. Magnetic properties and microstructures of samples were investigated by means of alternative gradient force magnetometers and X-ray diffraction. Regarding the giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) effect, annealing at different ambient pressures with the same current can lead to various responses. For annealing at higher pressures such as in air, higher current is necessary for crystallization of samples which results in the development of greater transverse magnetic anisotropy.     

Effect of thermal treatment on high-frequency magneto-impedance in ferromagnetic/Cu/ferromagnetic trilayers

Ferromagnetic/Cu/ferromagnetic trilayers (FM/Cu/FM) have been produced by sputtering (FM = CoFeSiB or FeSiB, thickness 80–500 nm). The Cu layer, longer than the two FM layers, is connected to a strip line attached to a network analyzer (frequency interval 30 kHz–6 GHz). The variation of the characteristic impedance of the line with a static magnetic defines the giant magneto-impedance (GMI) ratio. Trilayers have been annealed in furnace, with and without a magnetic field (aimed to induce a magnetic anisotropy). The effect on GMI of the FM material composition, thickness and annealing has been studied. In general, transverse annealing improves the GMI response of the device, whereas longitudinal annealing on CoFeSiB-based trilayers does not improve the GMI response, but reduces the field value at which peak GMI effect is observed.     

Structural and magnetic characterization of composite YCo5/α-Fe (20 wt%) powders prepared by mechanical alloying and subsequent annealing

Powder mixtures of YCo₅ + α-Fe (20 wt%) were prepared by high energy mechanical alloying under Ar using a SPEX 8000 mill and subsequent vacuum annealing. The structural and magnetic properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction, DSC, and magnetic measurements. After 4 h of milling, the alloyed powders were found to be composed of an amorphous Y–Co phase and α-Fe with a mean grain size strongly reduced. The DSC curves exhibited an irreversible broad exothermic peak with a maximum at 555 °C associated with the crystallization process. Subsequent high vacuum annealing in the temperature range 550–750 °C led to the formation of rhombohedral Th₂Zn₁₇-type and α-Fe(Co) phases. Samples were magnetically soft showing low remanence and room temperature coercivity in the range 470–800 Oe. The latter is in agreement with the low magnetocrystalline anisotropy along the basal plane exhibited by the Y₂(Co, Fe)₁₇ phase.     

Phase evolution and magnetic properties of Co/α-Fe2O3 powder mixtures with different molar ratios treated by mechanical alloying

In this work, we report the phase formation and magnetic properties of Co–hematite powder mixtures with two different molar ratios: Co/α-Fe₂O₃: 1/0.7 and 1/1.3 subjected to high-energy mechanical milling using metallic cobalt and hematite powder as the initial raw material in ambient air atmosphere. The samples were activated with a ball to powder weight ratio (BPR) of 10 and the milled powders were collected after 0, 1, 5, 15, 25 and 30 h. Various characterization techniques such as XRD, HRTEM, VSM and Mössbauer spectroscopy were utilized to study the prepared samples. For the samples with Co/α-Fe₂O₃: 1/0.7 milled for 1 and 5 h the formation of cobalt ferrite was confirmed. However, this was not the case for the samples milled above 5 h for whose both Mössbauer and XRD results confirmed the phase decomposition taken place for the previously formed cobalt ferrite phase. Further, the formation of superparamagnetic nanoclusters of iron oxide, a wustite-like Fe_1?XCo_XO phase and the existence of small amounts of metallic Fe/Fe_1?XCo_X phase/s were also detected for these samples. The presence of the latter phase is not believed to be solely related to contamination from the steel vial/balls used. A mechanochemical-reduction process is assumed to be also possibly responsible for the formation of the observed reduced phases. For the powder mixture with Co/α-Fe₂O₃: 1/1.3, however, increased formation of cobalt ferrite phase was observed by increasing the milling time. The highest maximum magnetization (53 e.m.u/g) and coercive field (500 Oe) was obtained for the sample milled for 25 h among various samples of this series of powder mixture. The lower magnetization obtained for this sample compared to that of the bulk is attributed to the size effect. Furthermore, the structural–magnetic properties relationship of the various powders prepared is discussed in detail.     

Broad UHF ferromagnetic resonance of iron rich-aluminum pulsed laser deposited thin films

The magnetic susceptibility of Fe–Al off-normal pulsed laser deposited thin films was measured at ultra high frequencies, UHF. Different Fe_1?x–Al_x films from pure Fe to x = 0.2 Al were prepared. The films were ≈40 nm thick and non-crystalline peaks were detected by the X-ray diffractometry studies. The magnetization of the films remained between 2.0 and 1.8 T for composition less than or equal to 20% Al. A magnetic anisotropy, from H_k ≈ 18 Oe for pure Fe to H_k ≈ 130 Oe for 20% Al was measured. These samples exhibited a well-defined ferromagnetic resonance at frequencies between ≈2.0 GHz and 3.8 GHz depending on composition. The broad resonance peaks had a width, at half maximum, w_h, in the interval from 2.5 GHz to 4.0 GHz depending on Al content. After fitting the magnetic hysteresis loops using a simple distribution of anisotropy values, we used the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation to fit the UHF magnetic susceptibility. From this last fit we obtained a high damping coefficient value (≈4 times higher than that corresponding to Co or CoFe films), explaining this broad ferromagnetic resonance of these Fe_1?x–Al_x films.     

Magnetostatic bias in soft/hard bi-phase layered materials based on amorphous ribbons and microwires

Bi-phase soft/hard magnetic systems have been prepared by electroplating CoNi alloy with relative hard magnetic character (10² Oe coercivity) onto ultrasoft (coercivity less than 1 Oe) FeCo-based amorphous alloys prepared by rapid solidification techniques. Experiments have been performed in planar (ribbons) and cylindrical (microwires) configuration. Low-field hysteresis loops after premagnetizing to saturation are ascribed to the magnetization reversal process of the soft inner phase, while harder component remains close to its remanence. Such low-field loops exhibit a shift typical of magnetic bias phenomena which in this case is ascribed to the magnetostatic coupling originated through the stray fields created by uncompensated charges at the ends of the harder phase.     

Ultrafine Co1−xZnxFe2O4 particles synthesized by hydrolysis: Effect of thermal treatment and its relationship with magnetic properties

Co_1−xZn_xFe₂O₄ (x = 0, 0.2 and 0.4) fine powders with particles size of 3 nm were prepared by hydrolysis method. The powders were annealed at 500 °C for 3 h. With heat treatment, the average particles size increased to 12 nm with corresponding increase in blocking temperature, saturation magnetization and reduced remanence. A significant increase in coercive field was found only for the pure CoFe₂O₄.     

Syntheses and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline CuCr2Se4

Nanocrystalline powder of ferromagnetic spinel CuCr₂Se₄ is synthesized with an average particle size of about 20–50 nm. The nano-powder is characterized using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. The Curie temperature of the nanocrystals exceeds the value obtained for usual bulk polycrystalline spinel sample. Exposure of the samples by laser radiation at wavelength of 1.5 μm under an external field leads to an increase in magnetization, that is caused by photo and thermo stimulated remagnetization of monodomain nanocrystals.     

Design of a double core linear magnetometer based on asymmetric magnetoimpedance effect in nanostructured Finemet ribbons

The techniques used to produce magnetic sensors encompass many aspects of physics and electronics and are going to develop with each passing year. In this paper, we introduce a double core giant magnetoimpedance sensor. The sensing elements are provided by heat treating the FeCuNbSiB (Finemet) ribbons at 560 °C for 1 h to achieve a high magnetic permeability associated with the nanostructured state. Sensor cores are exposed to a dc current bias in order to provide asymmetric giant magnetoimpedance (AGMI) behavior. The sensor detects both direction and amplitude of the magnetic field with a sensibility of 2 mV/Oe.     

Magnetic inductor based on nanosize amorphous metal powder

Amorphous metal powders with sizes from 20–50 nm were prepared by the borohydride reaction of metal salts. The as-processed powders were observed to form chains of different lengths. Magnetic cores were fabricated from the powders compacted with epoxy resin. Following compaction, the powders remained in chains oriented randomly throughout the cores. The resultant magnetic behavior is such that the cores’ BH curves are linear up to the applied field exceeding 100 Oe (8 kA/m). The magnetic chains are insulated by resin and the linear BH behavior is maintained in the frequency range beyond 10 MHz. These features are suited for applications in high-field sensors, linear inductors and the like.     

Directional role of weak magnetic field on the self-fabrication of ordered nickel chains

Novel ordered nickel chains with diameter 250–500 nm and length more than 5 μm were synthesized under weak magnetic field by hydrazine reducing in ethylene glycol. The phase, morphology and magnetic properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microanalyzer (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), respectively. The results reveal that weak magnetic field leads to the fabrication of nickel chains paralleling each other with hierarchical structures. The growth mechanism and fabrication process of nickel magnetic nanocrystallites were discussed.     

Microwave power absorption analysis in the devitrification process of Co-based amorphous ribbons

Melt-spun Co₆₆Fe₄B₁₂Si₁₃Nb₄Cu soft magnetic ribbons were devitrified at low annealing temperatures (623 K), for times 5–20 min. Microwave power absorption measurements at 9.4 GHz (X-band) were carried out in two geometries. In geometry 1, the ribbon’s plane was oriented parallel to AC magnetic field. For the orientation 2, the ribbon’s plane was normal to the AC magnetic field. In both cases, the ribbon’s axis was parallel to the DC magnetic field. For both orientations, two absorptions were observed: the first corresponds to a low field microwave absorption (LFA) centered in zero dc magnetic field, and a higher field absorption corresponding to the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR). In the geometry 1, a single FMR spectrum was observed for all the samples, with a shift in resonant field as annealing increased. For geometry 2, evidence of the superposition of two FMR signals was observed. FMR spectra are therefore due to a combination of two different magnetic phases corresponding to the amorphous matrix and nanocrystallites. Deconvolution calculations were carried out on FMR spectra to separate the contributions. Their behavior as a function of annealing time was in good agreement with the magnetic softening, also obtained with LFA results. The differences in microwave absorption, for both geometries, can be explained by differences in the electromagnetic wave propagation volume.     

Influence of maghemite concentration on magnetic interactions in maghemite/PTT-block-PTMO nanocomposite

Temperature dependence of dc magnetization and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) of two samples containing γ-Fe₂O₃ (maghemite) magnetic nanoparticles dispersed at low concentration (0.1 and 0.3 wt%) in a nanocomposite based on a poly(ether–ester) multiblock copolymer (PTT-block-PTMO) matrix was investigated. The polymer filler was in a powder form consisting of small-sized magnetic nanoparticles arranged in agglomerates 2–3 μm long and 100 nm thick. The studied samples were characterized by SEM spectroscopy. The SEM showed that the concentration of magnetic nanoparticles was homogenous in both samples The temperature dependence of the dc magnetization revealed that the blocking was about 100 K and the ZFC (zero-field cooling) mode at low magnetic fields uncovered the presence of magnetic interactions between magnetic nanoparticles depending on the properties of the matrix. FMR measurements were carried out in the temperature range 4.2–300 K. An intense resonance absorption line attributed to γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles was recorded with a slightly asymmetric lineshape. At room temperature the resonance line was centered at H_r = 3241(2) and 3253(2) G, with linewidths of ΔH = 1069(1) and 1070(1) G for samples with concentrations of 0.1 and 0.3 wt%, respectively. All FMR parameters showed an anomalous behavior at matrix critical temperatures. It was shown that the difference in concentration of magnetic nanoparticles could be responsible for the observed differences in the thermal behavior of the FMR spectra.     

Exchange-bias and superparamagnetic behaviour of Fe nanoparticles embedded in a porous carbon matrix

Combining different experimental techniques, the physical properties of Fe nanoparticles (NPs) randomly dispersed in a porous carbon have been investigated. From the analysis of TEM images and the broad maximum observed in ZFC–FC magnetization measurements under an applied magnetic field of 2.5 mT, a broad-size distribution NPs (5–50 nm) is estimated. The nature of these NPs (α-Fe and γ-Fe) was determined from X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, magnetization measurements suggest that these Fe-NPs remain completely blocked below 60 K due to a magnetic exchange-bias coupling induced on the surface of these NPs. However, the true nature of the core–shell responsible for this exchange bias within the NPs, is not totally understood yet. In addition, the system begins to be magnetically unblocked above 60 K, becoming almost superparamagnetic above 200 K. Room temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy confirms the existence of both α- and γ-Fe phases; an additional quadrupole component is required to properly fit the spectrum, which could be associated with the NP’s shell or to an oxide phase probably located on the surface of the NPs.