Size-dependent spin-reorientation transition in Nd2Fe14B nanoparticles

It is well known that some ferromagnetic properties like Curie temperature are size dependent. In this Letter we will report that the spin-reorientation temperature of Nd₂Fe₁₄B material is also size dependent. By using a surfactant-assisted ball milling technique, Nd₂Fe₁₄B nanoparticles with different size about 6, 20 and 300 nm were successfully obtained. Spin-reorientation transition temperature of the NdFeB nanoparticles was then determined by measuring the temperature dependence of DC and AC magnetic susceptibility. It was revealed that the spin-reorientation transition temperature (Tsr) of the nanoparticles is strongly size dependent. Tsr of the 300 nm particles is lower than that of the bulk raw material while the Tsr of the 20 nm particles is significantly lower than that for the 300 nm particles. The physics behind this size dependence is discussed.