A study on the formation of strontium hexaferrite nanopowder by a sol–gel auto-combustion method in the presence of surfactant

Strontium hexaferrite is a hard magnetic material and has been extensively used as a permanent magnet. In this work, a novel sol–gel auto-combustion method was used to synthesize ultra-fine strontium hexaferrite, and the effect of the surfactant on the crystallite size of the final product was investigated for the first time. The DTA/TGA plot exhibited the formation temperature of hexaferrite. The XRD results show that adding surfactant to the sol does not change the composition of the combustion product and the surfactant burns completely during the combustion process. The average crystallite size of hexaferrite powders was also measured by the X-ray line broadening technique employing the Scherrer formula. The results show that adding surfactant to the gel makes the particle size of the final product much smaller.     

Synthesis and properties of magnetic fluid based on iron nanoparticles prepared by a vapor-phase condensation process

Magnetic fluid containing metallic iron nanoparticles was successfully fabricated in this work. The iron nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical vapor condensation process and then dispersed in water-base solution (pH 11) with oleic acid as surfactant. More than 80% of iron nanoparticles were fully dispersed in the fluid and remained stable without any further oxidation over 200 h. Both the iron nanoparticles and the subsequent magnetic fluid exhibited typical ferromagnetic behavior.     

Magnetic properties of CoFeP films prepared by electroless deposition

Structure and magnetization of CoFeP films prepared by the electroless deposition were systematically investigated by varying the bath composition and deposition parameters to optimize soft magnetic properties. The cobalt content in the CoFeP films varies from 40.4 to 94.9 wt% by controlling the bath composition. Increase of the metallic ratio FeSO₄·7H₂O/(CoSO₄·7H₂O+FeSO₄·7H₂O) affects the films’ microstructure, which switches from amorphous to crystalline structure. The magnetic properties of CoFeP films reveal that the coercivity (H_c) values range from 80 up to 185 A/m and the saturation magnetization (M_s) from 82 to 580 eum/g depending on the bath composition, deposition parameters and heat-treatment conditions. Increase of M_s and remanent magnetization (M_r) as well as decrease of H_c are observed for the CoFeP films with bath pH, temperature and the metallic molar ratio increasing. It is also found that the H_c is enhanced with the increase of NaH₂PO₂·H₂O concentration. CoFeP films showing good soft magnetic properties with coercivities less than 140 A/m and M_s close to 600 emu/g can be obtained in high pH bath and thereafter heat treatment. The deposit is found to be suitable as soft magnetic materials for core materials.     

Magnetic properties and microstructure of cobalt nanoparticles in a polymer film

Superparamagnetic properties of self-aggregated cobalt nanoparticles in the perfluorinated sulfo-cation membrane (MF-4SK) prepared by ion-exchange method were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry at various temperatures. Our experimental results show that cobalt nanoparticles in MF-4SK exhibit superparamagnetic properties above the blocking temperature (T_B), which varies from ∼80 to ∼300 K depending on the cobalt concentration at 100 Oe applied field. The average particle radius of 3.8 nm inferred from Langevin function fit for the concentration of 7.8×10¹⁹ cobalt atoms per 1 g of polymer film is in good agreement with TEM observation. This experimental evidence suggests that cobalt nanoparticles in the polymer film obey a single-domain theory. The results are discussed in the light of current theory for the superparamagnetic behavior of magnetic nanoparticles.     

Intermittent deposition and interface formation on the microstructure and magnetic properties of NiFe/Cu composite wires

In this work, magnetron sputtering in the form of continuous deposition or intermittent deposition modes was used to obtain NiFe/Cu composite wires. Based on the results, intermittent deposition mode led to the formation of an interface between deposited layers. A better crystallite and a little grain growth were found for the intermittently deposited wire. Good soft magnetic properties and large giant magneto-impedance (GMI) effect were exhibited by both composite wires. The GMI profile for the intermittently deposited composite wire was characterized by two peaks, which could be attributed to the difference in the magnetic properties of the inner and the outer magnetic layers. Annealing was introduced to the intermittently deposited wire so that the inherent stresses were partially relaxed. As a result, its GMI effect was enhanced and the magnetic properties of the two magnetic layers became similar. Hysteresis loops of the composite wires displayed different magnetic behaviors and hence further affirmed the GMI results.     

Inversion degree and saturation magnetization of different nanocrystalline cobalt ferrites

The inversion degree of a series of nanocrystalline samples of CoFe₂O₄ ferrites has been evaluated by a combined study, which exploits the saturation magnetization at 4.2 K and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. The samples, prepared by sol-gel autocombustion, have different thermal history and particle size. The differences observed in the saturation magnetization of these samples are explained in terms of different inversion degrees, as confirmed by the analysis of the components in the Mössbauer spectra. It is notable that the inversion degrees of the samples investigated are set among the highest values reported in the literature.     

Study of the magnetic properties of the permanent magnets by Mössbauer spectroscopy

This paper presents methods that can be used in order to determine the relative remanent magnetization and uniaxial magnetic anisotropy constant of particles in powder-based permanent magnets using Mössbauer spectroscopy. The methods were verified on the permanent magnet barium ferrite.     

Magnetic anomalies in single crystalline ErPd2Si2

Considering certain interesting features in the previously reported ¹⁶⁶Er Mössbauer effect, and neutron diffraction data on the polycrystalline form of ErPd₂Si₂ crystallizing in the ThCr₂Si₂-type tetragonal structure, we have carried out magnetic measurements (1.8–300 K) on the single crystalline form of this compound. We observe significant anisotropy in the absolute values of magnetization (indicating that the easy axis is c-axis) as well as in features due to magnetic ordering in the plot of magnetic susceptibility χ versus temperature T at low temperatures. The χ(T) data reveal that there is a pseudo-low-dimensional magnetic order setting in at 4.8 K, with a three-dimensional antiferromagnetic order setting in at a lower temperature (3.8 K). A new finding in the χ(T) data is that, for H∥〈1 1 0〉 but not for H∥〈0 0 1〉, there is a broad shoulder in the range 8–20 K, indicative of the existence of magnetic correlations above 5 K as well, which could be related to the previously reported slow-relaxation-dominated Mössbauer spectra. Interestingly, the temperature coefficient of electrical resistivity is found to be isotropic; no feature due to magnetic ordering could be detected in the electrical resistivity data at low temperatures, which is attributed to magnetic Brillioun-zone boundary gap effects. The results reveal the complex nature of magnetism of this compound.     

Magnetic transitions and structure of a NiMnGa ferromagnetic shape memory alloy prepared by melt spinning technique

A ferromagnetic shape memory alloy with nomial composition Ni_52.5Mn_24.5Ga₂₃ (at%) was developed by a melt spinning technique. The as-spun ribbon showed dominant L2₁ austenitic (cubic) structure with a splitting of the primary peak in the X-ray diffractogram indicating the existence of a martensitic feature. The quenched-in martensitic plates were revealed in transmission electron microscopy. An increase of magnetization at low temperature indicated a martensite to austenite transformation and its reverse with a drop in magnetization during the cooling cycle. Higher magnetic fields propel martensite–austenite transformation spontaneously.     

Effect of initial grain size on texture evolution and magnetic properties in nonoriented electrical steels

The magnetic properties of nonoriented electrical steels are influenced by the grain size and crystallographic texture. The technologies used to control the grain size in nonoriented electrical steels are approaching their limits. However, there is still some room for improvement of the magnetic properties through texture control. Hot-band annealing is known to be one of the most effective processing stages for texture modification. In this study, two types of initial grain sizes prior to cold rolling are obtained by different hot-band annealing. The effect of initial grain size on texture evolution and magnetic properties in nonoriented electrical steels containing 2% Si is examined. The specimens having different initial grain sizes have significantly different textures in the cold-rolled state and the annealed state. During the recrystallization stage, new grains formed in the coarse-grained specimens have stronger Goss but weaker γ-fibre texture than those in the fine-grained specimens. During the grain growth after complete recrystallization, the coarse-grained specimens still have weaker γ-fibre texture than the fine-grained specimens. The magnetic induction of the coarse-grained specimens is always higher at the same temperature than that of the fine-grained specimens. The core loss of the coarse-grained specimens is lower at the same temperature than that of fine-grained specimens. However, the improvement of the core loss becomes less pronounced as the annealing temperature increases.     

Comparison of the effects of cationic,anionic and nonionic surfactants on the properties of Sr-hexaferrite nanopowder synthesized by a sol–gel auto-combustion method

In this research, Sr-hexaferrite nanopowders were synthesized by a sol–gel auto-combustion route using three different surfactant types: cationic, anionic and nonionic. The obtained powders were characterized by FTIR, XRD and SEM techniques and their physical properties were compared. The results showed a decrease in crystallite size of the resultant Sr-hexaferrite powder in presence of cationic and anionic surfactants, while there are no significant changes in presence of nonionic one. However, all three types of surfactants resulted in a decrease in the formation temperature of Sr-hexaferrite.     

Surface and bulk magnetic properties of as-quenched FeNbB ribbons

The surface and bulk magnetic properties of amorphous FeNbB ribbons in as-quenched state are investigated using various non-destructive methods. The conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy has detected the presence of crystalline phase at both surfaces of ribbon sample while the bulk was amorphous. The coexistence of crystalline and amorphous phase was shown also in the X-ray diffraction pattern. Magnetic properties measured by bulk sensitive vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) strongly differs from the surface characteristics investigated by magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE).     

The effect of solution temperature on crystallite size and magnetic properties of Zn substituted Co ferrite nanoparticles

In this work zinc substituted cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (Co_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄) have been synthesized by the coprecipitation method, using stable ferric, zinc and cobalt salts with sodium hydroxide, at different solution temperatures, from room temperature to 363 K. The cobalt-zinc ferrite crystalline phase, the particle size and the morphology of the resulting nanoparticles were studied by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The average crystallite size of each sample was calculated from the broadening of the most intense peak (3 1 1), using Scherrer's formula and the results show crystallite sizes increased from 6 to 8 nm by increasing the solution temperature from room temperature to 363 K respectively. Room temperature VSM measurements show that the prepared nanoparticles have superparamagnetic behavior and did not saturate at maximum field of 800 kA/m. The variation of AC-susceptibility of the samples with respect to temperature was measured and it was found that the blocking temperature increased from 198 to 270 K by increasing the solution temperature from room temperature to 363 K respectively. FTIR spectra of the samples have been analyzed in the frequency range 400-4000 cm⁻¹, which also confirms the results of XRD.     

Influence of hydrogenation on the structural and magnetic properties of compounds based on cerium and crystallizing in the tetragonal CeFeSi-type structure

The hydrogen absorption properties of CeMnGe, CeFeSi and CeCoX (X=Si and Ge) have been investigated. Neutron powder diffraction performed on deuteride CeCoGeD indicates that D-atoms are inserted in the pseudo-tetrahedral interstices [Ce₄] of the tetragonal CeFeSi-type structure of this compound. Magnetization and electrical resistivity measurements reveal that the hydrogenation of: (i) CeCoSi and CeCoGe leads to the transition antiferromagnet→spin fluctuation behaviour; (ii) CeMnGe suppress the magnetic ordering of the Ce-moments. These results which suggest a lost of ordered magnetic moment on the Ce site after hydrogenation could result from the chemical effect of hydrogen which prevails over the unit cell expansion effect.     

Magnetic studies of Li-Zn ferrites prepared by citrate precursor method

Ferrites having the general formula Li_0.5−0.5xZn_xFe_2.5−0.5xO₄ where 0≤x≤0.6 in steps of 0.2 were prepared by the citrate precursor method. The Curie temperature measured shows a decrease with increasing Zn concentration. Experimental results show that the room temperature initial permeability increases with the increase in the concentration of zinc. The initial permeability has also been studied as a function of frequency in the range of 100 Hz-1 MHz. The real part of initial permeability referred as initial permeability and the imaginary part of initial permeability better known as permeability loss show dispersion with frequency. Possible mechanism contributing to the above processes is discussed.     

Synthesis of magnetic hollow silica using polystyrene bead as a template

In this paper, we report a new route to synthesize novel magnetic hollow silica nanospheres (MHSNs) using polystyrene particles as sacrificial templates, and TEOS and Fe₃O₄ as precursors. TEM, EDS, XRD, and SQUID were applied to characterize MHSNs. TEM and EDS results show that the MHSNs consist of about 200 nm of hollow cores and ∼35 nm shells with ∼10 nm of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles embedded. The polystyrene beads were successfully removed by immersing the as-prepared silica nanocomposite in a toluene solution. XRD results demonstrate that the Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles still keep spinel structure even heated at low temperature. The surface status of the polystyrene beads and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles has an important effect on the formation of the MHSNs. The MHSNs present a superparamagnetism at room temperature by SQUID measurement. The MHSNs have potential applications in biosystem and nanomedicine.     

Magnetocaloric effects in Ni-Mn-X based Heusler alloys with X=Ga, Sb, In

The Mn-based Heusler alloys encompass a rich collection of useful materials from highly spin-polarized systems to shape memory alloys to magnetocaloric materials. In this work we have summarized our studies of magnetostructural transitions from paramagnetic austenite to ferromagnetic martesite phases at TMC in Ni₂MnGa-based alloys (Ni₂Mn_0.75Cu_0.25-xCo_xGa, Ni₂Mn_0.70Cu_0.30Ga_0.95Ge_0.05, Ni₂Mn_1-xCu_xGa, Ni_2+xMn_1-xGa, and Ni₂Mn_0.75-xCu_xGa), and martensitic transitions from the ferromagnetic austenite to the martesite state in off-stoichiometric Ni-Mn-(In/Sb) Heusler alloys. The phase transition temperatures and respective magnetic entropy changes (ΔS) depend on composition in these systems and have been determined from magnetization measurements in the temperature interval 5-400 K, and in magnetic fields up to 5 T. It is shown that, depending on the composition and doping scheme the “giant” ΔS=40-60 J/(kgK) (for a field change of 5 T) can be observed in the temperature range (300-360 K) for the Ga-based alloys. The interplay between or coupling of the various transitions in Ni₂Mn(Mn,X) systems with X=Sb and In leads to exchange bias effects, giant magnetoresistance, and both inverse and “normal” magnetocaloric effects.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of Zn1−xMnxO films prepared by the sol-gel method

We report on the ferromagnetic characteristics of Zn_1−xMn_xO films (x=0.1-0.3) prepared by the sol-gel method on silicon substrates using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry at various temperatures. Magnetic measurement show that the Curie temperature (T_C) and the coercive field (H_C) were ∼39 K and ∼2100 Oe for the film of x=0.2, respectively. EDS and TEM measurements indicate that Mn content at the interface is significantly higher than that at the center of the Zn_0.8Mn_0.2O film showing the ratio, Zn:Mn:O≅1:12:15. This experimental evidence suggests that ferromagnetic precipitates containing manganese oxide may be responsible for the observed ferromagnetic behavior of the film.     

Long-term stability of soft magnetic properties of amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys based on iron

In the present paper long-term stability of magnetic properties of different amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys was studied. Magnetic properties were measured for annealed samples (300<Ta<900 K) directly after annealing and after long-term aging at room temperature. It was shown that for the Fe_75.3Cu₁Zr_1.7Si₁₃B₉ alloy magnetic permeability of the optimized samples is stable during 8 years aging. For Fe_86−xNb_xB₁₄ alloys the observed long-term instability (3 years aging) is due to annealing out of free volume leading to formations of small iron clusters coherent with the amorphous surroundings.