Magnetic Domains and Surface Effects in Hollow Maghemite Nanoparticles

TL;DR

This study explores the magnetic properties of hollow maghemite nanoparticles, revealing their low transition temperatures, small magnetic moments, and complex domain structures influenced by their hollow, polycrystalline microstructure.

Contribution

It introduces an atomistic Monte Carlo simulation model to interpret magnetic behavior considering the hollow and polycrystalline structure of maghemite nanoparticles.

Findings

Low superparamagnetic-to-ferromagnetic transition temperatures

Small magnetic moments and significant coercivities

No magnetic saturation up to 5 T

Abstract

In the present work, we investigate the magnetic properties of ferrimagnetic and noninteracting maghemite (g-Fe2O3) hollow nanoparticles obtained by the Kirkendall effect. From the experimental characterization of their magnetic behavior, we find that polycrystalline hollow maghemite nanoparticles are characterized by low superparamagnetic-to-ferromagnetic 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 an atomistic Monte Carlo simulation of an individual spherical shell model. 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 structure polycrystalline and its hollow geometry, while revealing the magnetic domain arrangement in the different temperature regimes.