Particle size effects in the antiferromagnetic spinel CoRh$_2$O$_4$

TL;DR

This study investigates how reducing particle size in antiferromagnetic CoRh2O4 affects its magnetic properties, revealing increased magnetization in smaller nanoparticles while maintaining antiferromagnetic order.

Contribution

It demonstrates the particle size dependence of magnetic behavior in CoRh2O4 nanoparticles synthesized by mechanical milling, with detailed analysis of structure and magnetization.

Findings

Magnetic ordering persists across particle sizes.

Magnetization magnitude increases as particle size decreases.

Particle size reduces from 70 nm to 16 nm with increased milling time.

Abstract

We report the particle size dependent magnetic behaviour in the antiferromagnetic spinel CoRh2O4. The nanoparticles were obtained by mechanical milling of bulk material, prepared under sintering method. The XRD spectra show that the samples are retaining the spinel structure. The particle size decreases from 70 nm to 16 nm as the milling time increases from 12 hours to 60 hours. The magnetic measurements suggest that the antiferromagnetic ordering at T$_N$ $\approx$ 27K exists in bulk as well as in nanoparticle samples. However, the magnitude of the magnetization below T$_N$ increases with decreasing particle size.