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Title: Magnetic domains and surface effects in hollow maghemite nanoparticles

Journal Article · · Physical Review B
OSTI ID:963028

In the present work, we investigate the magnetic properties of ferrimagnetic and non-interacting maghemite hollow nanoparticles obtained by the Kirkendall effect. From the experimental characterization of their magnetic behavior, we find that polycrystalline hollow maghemite nanoparticles exhibit low blocked-to-superparamagnetic transition temperatures, small magnetic moments, significant coercivities and irreversibility fields, and no magnetic saturation on external magnetic fields up to 5 T. These results are interpreted in terms of the microstructural parameters characterizing the maghemite shells by means of atomistic Monte Carlo simulations of an individual spherical shell. The model comprises strongly interacting crystallographic domains arranged in a spherical shell with random orientations and anisotropy axis. The Monte Carlo simulation allows discernment between the influence of the polycrystalline structure and its hollow geometry, while revealing the magnetic domain arranggement in the different temperataure regimes.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Materials Sciences Division
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
963028
Report Number(s):
LBNL-2099E; TRN: US200917%%156
Journal Information:
Physical Review B, Vol. 79, Issue 9; Related Information: Journal Publication Date: Mar 2009; ISSN 1098-0121
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English