Interplay between microstructure and magnetism in NiO nanoparticles: breakdown of the antiferromagnetic order

This work reports on how the antiferromagnetism of a bulk material can be broken when reducing its size under a given threshold. For
this aim, a comprehensive study combining structural characterization techniques and magnetic measurements was performed in NiO
nanoparticles (NPs) with sizes ranging from 2.5 to 9 nm. Nanoscale, 2014, 6, 457-465

3d metal oxides NPs with different morphologies are good candidates for a number of applications due to the size-dependent magnetic behaviours and the possibility of tuning the magnetic response and/or the coating with a functional layer. To study the relationship between microstructure and magnetic properties at the nanoscale, three samples with controlled sizes (2.5, 4 and 9 nm) of NiO NPs were prepared. Their crystal structure and microstructure were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques. On the other hand, the magnetic properties were studied through the temperature and magnetic field dependences of the magnetization.

The EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) spectra allowed proving that surface effects became more relevant as the particle size was reduced, even if crystallinity still remained.

 

In addition, the results provided by all the different techniques reveal that size effects induce surface spin frustration which competes with the expected antiferromagnetic (AFM) order,  typical of bulk NiO, giving rise to a threshold size for the AFM phase to nucleate. Ni2+  magnetic moments in 2.5 nm NPs seem to be in a spin glass (SG) state, wheres larger NPs are formed by an uncompensated AFM core with a net magnetic mo

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Interplay between microstructure and magnetism in NiO nanoparticles: breakdown of the antiferromagnetic order
N. Rinaldi-Montes, P. Gorria, D. Martínez-Blanco, A. B. Fuertes, L. Fernández Barquín, J. Rodríguez Fernández, I. de Pedro, M. L. Fdez-Gubieda, J. Alonso, L. Olivi, G. Aquilanti and J. A. Blanco.
Nanoscale,2014, 6, 457-465.
10.1039/C3NR03961G
Ultima modifica il Lunedì, 30 Giugno 2014 11:52