Finite size and surface effects on the magnetic properties of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology 2011-04, Vol.13 (4), p.1663-1676
• Main Authors: Vázquez-Vázquez, C., López-Quintela, M. A., Buján-Núñez, M. C., Rivas, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anisotropy; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cobalt; Cobalt ferrites; Inorganic Chemistry; Lasers; Law; Low temperature; Magnetic fields; Magnetic properties; Magnetic studies; Materials Science; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Optical Devices; Optics; Particle size; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Research Paper; Saturation; Saturation (magnetic); Specific surface; Transmission electron microscopy
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-010-9920-7

Cobalt ferrite, CoFe 2 O 4 , nanoparticles in the size range 2–15 nm have been prepared using a non-aqueous solvothermal method. The magnetic studies indicate a superparamagnetic behavior, showing an increase in the blocking temperatures (ranging from 215 to more than 340 K) with the particle size, D TEM . Fitting M versus H isotherms to the saturation approach law, the anisotropy constant, K , and the saturation magnetization, M S , are obtained. For all the samples, it is observed that decreasing the temperature gives rise to an increase in both magnetic properties. These increases are enhanced at low temperatures (below ~160 K) and they are related to surface effects (disordered magnetic moments at the surface). The fit of the saturation magnetization to the T 2 law gives larger values of the Bloch constant than expected for the bulk, increasing with decreasing the particle size (larger specific surface area). The saturation magnetization shows a linear dependence with the reciprocal particle size, 1/ D TEM , and a thickness of 3.7 to 5.1 Å was obtained for the non-magnetic or disordered layer at the surface using the dead layer theory. The hysteresis loops show a complex behavior at low temperatures ( T  ≤ 160 K), observing a large hysteresis at magnetic fields H  > ~1000 Oe compared to smaller ones ( H  ≤ ~1000 Oe). From the temperature dependence of the ac magnetic susceptibility, it can be concluded that the nanoparticles are in magnetic interaction with large values of the interaction parameter T 0 , as deduced by assuming a Vogel–Fulcher dependence of the superparamagnetic relaxation time. Another evidence of the presence of magnetic interactions is the almost nearly constant value below certain temperatures, lower than the blocking temperature T b , observed in the FC magnetization curves.