A method for measuring the Neel relaxation time in a frozen ferrofluid

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new method to measure the Neel relaxation time in frozen ferrofluids by analyzing temperature derivatives under an alternating magnetic field, providing insights into magnetic relaxation behavior.

Contribution

A novel derivative-based approach for determining the Neel relaxation time and its temperature dependence in ferrofluids, validated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles.

Findings

Neel relaxation time decreases with temperature

Estimated room-temperature anisotropy constant of 40 kJ/m3

Method applicable to magnetic nanoparticle systems

Abstract

We report a novel method of determining the average Neel relaxation time and its temperature dependence by calculating derivatives of the measured time dependence of temperature for a frozen ferrofluid exposed to an alternating magnetic field. The ferrofluid, composed of dextran-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (diameter 13.7 nm +/- 4.7 nm), was synthesized via wet chemical precipitation and characterized by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. An alternating magnetic field of constant amplitude (H0 = 20 kA/m) driven at frequencies of 171 kHz, 232 kHz and 343 kHz was used to determine the temperature dependent magnetic energy absorption rate in the temperature range from 160 K to 210 K. We found that the specific absorption rate of the ferrofluid decreased monotonically with temperature over this range at the given frequencies. From these measured data, we determined the temperature dependence of the Neel relaxation time and estimate a room-temperature magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant of 40 kJ/m3, in agreement with previously published results.