Structural and electromagnetic characteristics of substituted strontium hexaferrite nanoparticles

Substituted strontium ferrite SrFe₉(Mn_0.5Co_0.5Zr)_3/2O₁₉ has been prepared from sol–gel method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and vector network analyzer, were used to analyze the structure and dynamic magnetic properties. Powders of sample show a hexagonal fine platelet structure and narrow particle size distribution. Based on microwave measurement on reflectivity, SrFe₉(Mn_0.5Co_0.5Zr)_3/2O₁₉ may be a good candidate for electromagnetic compatibility and other practical applications at high frequency.     

Optoelectronic characteristics of close-packed HgTe nanoparticles in the infrared range

Absorption, photoluminescence (PL), photoresponse, and I-V measurements were made for a close-packed HgTe nanoparticle film without organic capping materials to investigate its optoelectronic characteristics in the infrared (IR) range. In the absorption and PL spectra taken for the close-packed nanoparticle film, the wavelength of exciton peak was red-shifted, compared with 1-thioglycerol capped HgTe nanoparticles dispersed in solution. For the HgTe nanoparticle film, dark current was below several pA level, current was increased by about three orders of magnitude at a biased voltage of 3 V under the illumination, and photoresponse was very rapid compared with 1-thioglycerol capped HgTe nanoparticles. These optoelectronic characteristics illustrate that HgTe nanoparticles are one of promising materials for the photodetector in the IR range. Finally, the origin for the increase of photocurrent with increasing temperature observed in this study will be discussed.     

Preparation and investigation of magnetic properties of MnNiTi-substituted strontium hexaferrite nanoparticles

A series of M-type strontium hexaferrite powders with substitution of Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Ti⁴⁺ ions for Fe³⁺ ions according to the formula SrFe₉(Mn_0.5−xNi_xTi_0.5)₃O₁₉, where x ranges from 0 to 0.5 with a step of 0.1, has been prepared via the conventional ceramic method. In order to get nanoparticles, the obtained powders were milled in a high energy SPEX mill for 1 h. XRD investigations of the unmilled and milled powders show that the prepared samples are all single phase hexaferrite. Lattice parameters and mean crystallite sizes of the powders were determined from the XRD data and Scherrer’s formula. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to analyze their structures. Room temperature magnetizations and coercivities of the samples in a magnetic field of 15 kOe have been determined from the hysteresis loops. It was found that magnetizations of the milled samples were smaller than the magnetization of the unmilled samples. This decrease, based on core-shell model, has been attributed to the presence of a magnetically dead layer on the particles’ surface of the milled powders. In addition, the magnetizations of the milled samples decrease with the increase in x value. This decrease has been discussed according to site occupation of the substituted cations on the sublattices. The discussion also supports the increase of lattice parameters and the decrease of Curie temperature as x increases.     

Phase transition and magnetic properties of Mg-doped hexagonal close-packed Ni nanoparticles

Mg-doped Ni nanoparticles with the hexagonal close-packed (hcp) and face-centered cubic (fcc) structure have been synthesized by sol-gel method sintered at different temperatures in argon atmosphere. The sintering temperature played an important role in the control of the crystalline phase and the particle size. The pure hcp Mg-doped Ni nanoparticles with average particle size of 6.0 nm were obtained at 320 °C. The results indicated that the transition from the hcp to the fcc phase occurred in the temperature range between 320 °C and 450 °C. Moreover, the VSM results showed that the hcp Mg-doped Ni nanoparticles had unique ferromagnetic and superparamagnetic behavior. The unsaturation even at 5000 Oe is one of the superparamagnetic characteristics due to the small particle size. From the ZFC and FC curves, the blocking temperature T_B of the hcp sample (6.0 nm) was estimated to be 10 K. The blocking temperature was related to the size of the magnetic particles and the magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant. By theoretical calculation, the deduced particle size was 6.59 nm for hcp Mg-doped Ni nanoparticles which was in agreement with the results of XRD and TEM.     

Synthesis of coprecipitated strontium hexaferrite nanoparticles in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol

Strontium hexaferrite (SrFe₁₂O₁₉) nanoparticles were synthesized by the chemical coprecipitation method and using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a protective agent. The synthesized samples were characterized by differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, particle size analyzer, sedimentation test and vibrating sample magnetometer. In the presence of PVA, the single-phase SrFe₁₂O₁₉ nanoparticles were obtained at low temperature of 650 °C. The average particle size of SrFe₁₂O₁₉ precursor was 15 nm, which increased to 61 nm after calcination at 650 °C. The magnetic measurements indicated that PVA decreased coercivity from 4711 to 3216 Oe with particle size reduction. The results showed that PVA as a protective agent could be effective in decreasing the particle size, calcination temperature and coercivity of SrFe₁₂O₁₉ nanoparticles.     

The influence of Nd-Co substitution on the magnetic properties of non-stoichiometric strontium hexaferrite nanoparticles

Non-stoichiometric Nd-Co substituted hexaferrites of composition Sr_1−xNd_xFe_12(1−x)Co_xO₁₉ (x=0-0.4) were prepared by the self-propagating combustion method and subsequent heat treatments. Structural characterization of samples showed that the M-type hexagonal structure can be maintained for substitutions x<0.4 without the segregation of secondary phases on samples calcined at 1100 °C. The crystallites sizes range between 50 and 70 nm. Mössbauer spectroscopy results indicate that the iron vacancies are not evenly distributed over the lattice and that Co/Fe substitution mainly takes place in site 4f2. Magnetic measurements reveal that values of saturation magnetization M_S increased from 72 to 76 Am²/kg (x=0-0.2), while coercivity H_c increased from 26.40 to 58.70 A/m (x=0-0.3). Nd-Co substitutions enhance magnetic properties in deficient iron Sr hexaferrites.     

Structural and magnetic behaviour of aluminium doped barium hexaferrite nanoparticles synthesized by solution combustion technique

Nanocrystalline M-type Al³⁺ substituted barium hexaferrite samples having generic formula BaFe_12−xAl_xO₁₉ (where x=0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00) were synthesized by the solution combustion technique. The precursors were prepared using stoichiometric amounts of Ba²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Al³⁺ nitrate solutions with citric acid as a chelating agent. The barium nitrate to citric acid ratio was taken as 1:2 and pH of the solution was kept at 8. The sintered samples were characterized by XRD, EDAX, SEM, TEM and VSM techniques. Pure barium hexaferrite shows only single phase hexagonal structure while samples at 0.25≤x≥1.00 show α-Fe₂O₃ peaks with M-phase of barium hexaferrite in the X-ray diffraction pattern. The lattice parameters (a and c) obtained from XRD data decreases with increase in aluminium content x. The particle size obtained from X-ray diffraction data is in the nanometer range. The magnetic behaviour of the samples was studied using vibrating sample magnetometer technique. The saturation magnetization (M_s) and magneton number (n_B) decrease from 38.567 to 21.732 emu/g and from 7.6752 to 4.2126μ_B, respectively, with increase in Al³⁺ substitution x from x=0.0 to 1.0.     

银纳米颗粒阵列的表面增强拉曼散射效应研究

利用具有高密度拉曼热点的金属纳米结构作为表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)基底,可以显著增强吸附分子的拉曼信号.本文通过阳极氧化铝模板辅助电化学法沉积制备了高密度银(Ag)纳米颗粒阵列;利用扫描电子显微镜和反射谱表征了样品的结构形貌和表面等离激元特性;用1, 4-苯二硫醇(1, 4-BDT)为拉曼探针分子,研究了Ag纳米颗粒阵列的SERS效应.通过优化沉积时间,制备出高SERS探测灵敏度的Ag纳米颗粒阵列,检测极限可达10~(-13)mol/L;时域有限差分法模拟结果证实了纳米颗粒间存在强的等离激元耦合作用,且发现纳米颗粒底端的局域场增强更大.研究结果表明Ag纳米颗粒阵列可作为高效的SERS基底.     

Formation of barium hexaferrite

The reactivity of hematite produced by pyrolysis of iron salts at various temperatures was assessed by surface area measurement, electron microscopy, crystal size and by reacting it with BaCO₃ to form hexaferrite. The effect of heating rate, soaking temperature and time were studied. The mechanism of hexaferrite formation was investigated and the previously reported unknown X-ray diffraction pattern was explained. It has been proven that the various compounds higher in BaO than the monoferrite were formed first, but the main intermediate phase was the monoferrite.Hexaferrite prepared at lower temperature for longer periods were found to be finer than that prepared at higher temperatures for shorter periods.     

Scattering behavior of nonabsorbing metallic nanoparticles

The optical property of nanosized metallic particles is unique and size-dependent, which cause color variation. In this work, the relationship between diameter and refractive index of nonabsorbing metallic nanoparticles and their scattering properties is studied by using Mie theory. Obtained results indicate that the optical scattering of metallic nanoparticle depends on their refractive index and diameter. The effect of refractive index on optical scattering depends on the nanoparticle diameter. So that, for very fine nanoparticle (10 nm diameter) the effect of refractive index on scattering is not significant. But the effect of refractive index of large size nanoparticle (700–900 nm diameter) on their optical scattering is higher than fine and medium size nanoparticles. The wavelength with maximum scattering depends on refractive index and nanoparticles diameter. In addition, the colorimetric study indicates that the color of nanoparticle depends on their size and refractive index. So that, the lightness, hue, and colorfulness of nanoparticles is changed by changing size and refractive index.     

Anomalous magnetic behavior of CuO nanoparticles

We report studies on temperature, field and time dependence of magnetization on cupric oxide nanoparticles of sizes 9 nm, 13 nm and 16 nm. The nanoparticles show unusual features in comparison to other antiferromagnetic nanoparticle systems. The field cooled (FC) and zero field cooled (ZFC) magnetization curves bifurcate well above the Néel temperature and the usual peak in the ZFC magnetization curve is absent. The system does not show any memory effects which is in sharp contrast to the usual behavior shown by other antiferromagnetic nanoparticles. It turns out that the non-equilibrium behavior of CuO nanoparticles is very strange and is neither superparamagnetic nor spin glass like.     

Ferromagnetic behavior of high-purity ZnO nanoparticles

ZnO nanoparticles with the wurtzite structure were prepared by chemical methods at low temperature in aqueous solution. The size of the nanoparticles is in the range from about 10 to 30 nm. Ferromagnetic properties were observed from 2 K to room temperature and above. Magnetization versus temperature, M(T), and isothermal M(H) measurements were obtained. The coercive field clearly shows ferromagnetism above room temperature. An exchange bias was observed, and we related this behavior to the core-shell structure present in the samples. The chemical synthesis, structure, and defects in the bulk related to oxygen vacancies are the main factors for the observed magnetic behavior.     

Agglomeration behavior of lipid-capped gold nanoparticles

The current investigation deciphers aggregation pattern of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and lipid-treated AuNPs when subjected to aqueous sodium chloride solution with increasing ionic strengths (100–400 nM). AuNPs were synthesized using 0.29 mM chloroauric acid and by varying the concentrations of trisodium citrate (AuNP1 1.55 mM, AuNP2 3.1 mM) and silver nitrate (AuNP3 5.3 μM, AuNP4 10.6 μM) with characteristic LSPR peaks in the range of 525–533 nm. TEM analysis revealed AuNPs to be predominantly faceted nanocrystals with the average size of AuNP1 to be 35?±?5 nm, AuNP2 15?±?5 nm, AuNP3 30?±?5 nm, and AuNP4 30?±?5 nm and the zeta-average for AuNPs were calculated to be 31.23, 63.80, 26.08, and 28 nm respectively. Induced aggregation was observed within 10 s in all synthesized AuNPs while lipid-treated AuNP2 (AuNP2-L) was found to withstand ionic interferences at all concentration levels. However, lipid-treated AuNPs synthesized using silver nitrate and 1.55 mM trisodium citrate (AuNP3, AuNP4) showed much lower stability. The zeta potential values of lipid-treated AuNPs (AuNP1-L-1x/200, ??17.93?±?1.02 mV; AuNP2-L-1x/200, ??21.63?±?0.70; AuNP3-L-1x/200, ??14.54?±?0.90; AuNP3-L-1x/200 ??13.77?±?0.83) justified these observations. To summarize, AuNP1 and AuNP2 treated with lipid mixture 1 equals or above 1x/200 or 1x/1000 respectively showed strong resistance against ionic interferences (up to 400 mM NaCl). Use of lipid mixture 1 for obtaining highly stable AuNPs also provided functional arms of various lengths which can be used for covalent coupling.

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Graphical abstract Agglomeration behavior of gold nanoparticles before and after lipid capping

     

电阻并联约瑟夫森结阵列中的混沌行为

采用数值方法,对存在并联电阻的约瑟夫森结串联阵列进行了研究。首次发现当阵列中结的个数为3时,其中存在明显的混沌行为,并给出了存在混沌行为的参数范围。根据A.A.Chernikov和G.Schmidt的理论,只有当约瑟夫森结的个数大于或者等于4时才能观察到混沌行为;这一发现说明了其理论存在一定的局限性。     

Muon spin relaxation studies of superconductivity in a crystalline array of weakly coupled metal nanoparticles

We report muon-spin-relaxation studies in weak transverse fields of the superconductivity in the metal cluster compound, Ga84[N(SiMe3)2]20-Li6Br2(thf)20.2 toluene. The temperature and field dependence of the muon-spin-relaxation rate and Knight shift clearly evidence type II bulk superconductivity below Tc approximately 7.8 K, with Bc1 approximately 0.06 T, Bc2 approximately 0.26 T, kappa approximately 2, and weak flux pinning. The data are well described by the s-wave BCS model with weak electron-phonon coupling in the clean limit. A qualitative explanation for the conduction mechanism in this novel type of narrow-band superconductor is presented.     

Use of a SQUID array to detect T-cells with magnetic nanoparticles in determining transplant rejection

Acute rejection in organ transplant is signaled by the proliferation of T-cells that target and kill the donor cells requiring painful biopsies to detect rejection onset. An alternative non-invasive technique is proposed using a multi-channel superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer to detect T-cell lymphocytes in the transplanted organ labeled with magnetic nanoparticles conjugated to antibodies specifically attached to lymphocytic ligand receptors. After a magnetic field pulse, the T-cells produce a decaying magnetic signal with a characteristic time of the order of a second. The extreme sensitivity of this technique, 10(5) cells, can provide early warning of impending transplant rejection and monitor immune-suppressive chemotherapy.