Tunnel magnetoresistance effect and magnetic damping in half-metallic Heusler alloys

Some full-Heusler alloys, such as Co(2)MnSi and Co(2)MnGe, are expected to be half-metallic ferromagnetic material, which has complete spin polarization. They are the most promising materials for realizing half-metallicity at room temperature owing to their high Curie temperature. We demonstrate a huge tunnel magnetoresistance effect in a magnetic tunnel junction using a Co(2)MnSi Heusler alloy electrode. This result proves high spin polarization of the Heusler alloy. We also demonstrate a small magnetic damping constant in Co(2)FeAl epitaxial film. The very high spin polarization and small magnetic constant of Heusler alloys will be a great advantage for future spintronic device applications.     

Magnetic Properties of Nanostructured Co and Ni Synthesized by Modified NaBH4 Reduction Route

Nanomaterials based on Co and Ni are technologically important because of their potential technological applications in recording media, catalysis, drug delivery systems, and so on. Recent research interests lie on the synthesis of Co and Ni nanomaterials by chemical synthesis, characterizations and studying for their interesting magnetic properties. In this investigation, we have focused on the synthesis of cobalt and nickel nanoparticles (NPs) in aqueous medium at ambient conditions by sodium borohydride reduction route. We have successfully stabilized the nanospheres comprising of Co and Ni by using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as capping agent. The Co and Ni nanomaterials were exhaustively characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and magnetic measurements. The phase purity and crystallite sizes were ascertained by using powder XRD method. Co and Ni NPs crystallize in face centered cubic (fcc) structure with lattice parameters (a) equal to 3.54 Å and 3.52 Å, respectively. The XRD lines were broad and indicate the fine particle nature of the materials. The estimated crystallite sizes were found to be 42 and 29 nm for Co and Ni, respectively. SEM micrograph studies show the particle sizes to be 80 and 70 nm, whereas TEM studies confirm the sizes to be 47 and 65 nm for Co and Ni, respectively. The electron micrograph studies indicate the appearance of agglomerates of the nanoparticles consisting of several crystallites. The specific magnetization versus field characteristics of Co and Ni nanoparticles shows the signature of the size and surface effects. The values of saturation magnetizations are found to be 122 and 47 emu/g, whereas the coercivity values are 111 Oe and 84 Oe for Co and Ni, respectively. In summary, we have synthesized high moment Co and Ni nanostructured materials with reduced coercivities, which may be useful for soft magnetic applications.     

Effect of Synthesis Parameters on the Properties of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Iron oxide nanoparticles were coprecipitated in air medium using different sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentrations, and their structural and magnetic properties were studied. It was observed that the precipitation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles could be achieved above a critical NaOH concentration. This was followed by the investigation of the effect of the stirring rate on the structural and magnetic properties of the nanoparticles precipitated at 8.5?M NaOH and over. Morphological observation made by a transmission electron microscope (TEM) showed that the particle size of iron oxide nanoparticles was around 7.5?nm. Magnetization curves measured by a vibrating sample magnetometer showed zero coercivity indicating that the samples are superparamagnetic and the highest saturation magnetization (70.4?emu/g) was obtained at the stirring rate of 1100?rpm. The mean particle sizes of iron oxide nanoparticles calculated from the magnetization data are found to be consistent with the particle sizes obtained from the TEM images.     

多孔Ni-Mn-Ga-Co磁性形状记忆合金的制备及磁学特性研究

首先采用球磨法制备了不同粒度的Ni-Mn-Ga-Co合金粉末,然后通过3D打印技术成功制备了泡沫结构的多孔Ni-Mn-Ga-Co磁性形状记忆合金。利用SEM、DSC和XRD等研究了合金的微观组织特征、物相结构、相变特性和相关的磁性行为。结果表明,球磨后经过分筛得到的不同粒径尺寸的合金粉末均为不规则形状。Ni-Mn-Ga-Co合金粉末在室温下为非调制四方马氏体结构,其特征峰十分明显。Ni-Mn-Ga-Co合金的DSC曲线上出现宽峰相变,添加Co元素对马氏体转变温度开始值(Ms)基本没有影响,但其居里温度(Tc)有显著的提高。采用粒径为50~100μm的合金粉末烧结制备的磁性合金,饱和磁化强度最大可达68 Am^2/kg。合金粉末粒径越小,烧结制备的多孔Ni-Mn-Ga-Co磁性形状记忆合金致密度越高。当合金粉末粒径<50μm时,致密度可达90%;当合金粉末粒径为50~100μm时,致密度仅为75%。相较于粒径较小的合金粉末,粒径较大的合金粉末制备的磁性合金磁感生应变能力更高,这是由于泡沫结构能够有效减少内部和外部的约束,从而有利于提高磁场诱导应变。     

Preparation of monodisperse Ni nanoparticles and their assembly into 3D nanoparticle superlattices

Monodisperse Ni nanoparticles with sizes varying from 4.8 to 11.3 nm are prepared via a one-pot reaction that involves the reduction of nickel(II) acetylacetonate in oleylamine in the presence of trioctylphosphine and 1,2-hexadecanediol. Reaction parameters such as temperature and the concentration of capping agent and metal precursor are critical for the adjustment of particle size. The decrease of crystallinity is observed for the samples with smaller particle sizes, which significantly affects the magnetic properties. Three-dimensional (3D) superlattices that are composed of Ni nanoparticles with different sizes are obtained on different substrates by a facile self-assembly process, and are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and small-angle X-ray diffraction (SAXRD). The Ni nanoparticle superlattices formed on carbon-coated TEM copper grids exhibit a dominant hexagonal close-packed (hcp) symmetry, although local fcc packing is also occasionally observed. The formation of 3D nanoparticle superlattice structures on Si substrates is confirmed from the SAXRD measurements. The method revealed in this study for the preparation of 3D superlattices composed of Ni nanoparticles with tunable sizes offers the potential to explore their interesting collective properties for multiple applications.     

Enhanced pulsed magneto-motive ultrasound imaging using superparamagnetic nanoclusters

Recently, pulsed magneto-motive ultrasound (pMMUS) imaging augmented with ultra-small magnetic nanoparticles has been introduced as a tool capable of imaging events at molecular and cellular levels. The sensitivity of a pMMUS system depends on several parameters, including the size, geometry and magnetic properties of the nanoparticles. Under the same magnetic field, larger magnetic nanostructures experience a stronger magnetic force and produce larger displacement, thus improving the sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of pMMUS imaging. Unfortunately, large magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles are typically ferromagnetic and thus are very difficult to stabilize against colloidal aggregation. In the current study we demonstrate improvement of pMMUS image quality by using large size superparamagnetic nanoclusters characterized by strong magnetization per particle. Water-soluble magnetic nanoclusters of two sizes (15 and 55 nm average size) were synthesized from 3 nm iron precursors in the presence of citrate capping ligand. The size distribution of synthesized nanoclusters and individual nanoparticles was characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Tissue mimicking phantoms containing single nanoparticles and two sizes of nanoclusters were imaged using a custom-built pMMUS imaging system. While the magnetic properties of citrate-coated nanoclusters are identical to those of superparamagnetic nanoparticles, the magneto-motive signal detected from nanoclusters is larger, i.e. the same magnetic field produced larger magnetically induced displacement. Therefore, our study demonstrates that clusters of superparamagnetic nanoparticles result in pMMUS images with higher contrast and SNR.     

Synthesis and characterization of pure and doped (Na, Ca, Sr) nanograined LaMnO3 magnetoresistive ceramics

Pure and Na, Ca, and Sr doped lanthanum manganites (LaMnO3, La0.85Na0.15MnO3, La0.7Ca0.3 MnO3, La0.7Sr0.3MnO3) were prepared in form of bulk nano-structured materials through a two-step process. Nanometric powders were synthesized by the Pechini method and subsequently densified by Spark Plasma Sintering at 1273 K for 5 minutes under a pressure of 140 MPa. The method allowed the preparation of single phase manganites with a theoretical density above 98% together with a very limited growth of the grain size. Grain sizes below 70 nm were obtained for all materials except La0.85Na0.15MnO3 which showed a much larger grain size. Curie temperatures (Tc) and magnetoresistivity properties of the samples were measured by a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID). The decrease in the resistivity below Tc occurred in a much wider range of temperature compared to ceramics having micron-size grains.     

Surface modified superparamagnetic nanoparticles for drug delivery: Interaction studies with human fibroblasts in culture

The concept of drug delivery using magnetic nanoparticles greatly benefit from the fact that nanotechnology has developed to a stage that it makes possible not only to produce magnetic nanoparticles in a very narrow size distribution range with superparamagnetic properties but also to engineer particle surfaces to provide site specific delivery of drugs. The size and surface characteristics of the nanoparticles are crucial factors that determine the success of the particles when used in vivo. The aim of this study was to modify the surfaces of the magnetic nanoparticles with PEG to improve the biocompatibility of the nanoparticles by resisting protein adsorption and increasing their intracellular uptake. In this study, the poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) modified superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles have been prepared and their influence on human dermal fibroblasts is assessed in terms of cell adhesion/viability, morphology, particle uptake and cytoskeletal organisation studies. Various techniques have been used to determine nanoparticle-cell interactions including light, fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The modification of nanoparticle surface induced alterations in cell behaviour distinct from the unmodified particles, suggesting that cell response can be directed via specifically engineered particle surfaces.     

铁纳米粉体的磁性能研究

为了研究铁纳米粉体材料与常规材料在磁性能方面的不同,采用阳极弧放电等离子体方法制备了铁纳米粉体。利用X射线衍射(XRD)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)和振动样品磁强计(VSM)等测试手段对样品的形貌、晶体结构、粒度、磁性能进行表征,并对振动样品磁强计测量静态磁特性的原理进行了分析。测试结果表明,样品呈规则的球形链状分布,表面光洁,平均粒径为39nm,粒径范围分布区间窄,晶体结构为bcc结构的晶态;纳米结构材料与常规材料在磁结构上有差别,铁纳米粉体的饱和磁化强度Ms为53emu/g,剩余磁化强度Mr为1.5emu/g,矫顽力Hc为32.2Oe。     

Atomic engineering of mixed ferrite and core-shell nanoparticles

Nanoparticulate ferrites such as manganese zinc ferrite and nickel zinc ferrite hold great promise for advanced applications in power electronics. The use of these materials in current applications requires fine control over the nanoparticle size as well as size distribution to maximize their packing density. While there are several techniques for the synthesis of ferrite nanoparticles, reverse micelle techniques provide the greatest flexibility and control over size, crystallinity, and magnetic properties. Recipes for the synthesis of manganese zinc ferrite, nickel zinc ferrite, and an enhanced ferrite are presented along with analysis of the crystalline and magnetic properties. Comparisons are made on the quality of nanoparticles produced using different surfactant systems. The importance of various reaction conditions is explored with a discussion on the corresponding effects on the magnetic properties, particle morphology, stoichiometry, crystallinity, and phase purity.     

Continuous free-flow electrophoresis of water-soluble monolayer-protected clusters

There has recently been a surge of interest in the properties and applications of monolayer protected clusters (MPCs). MPCs are metal nanoparticles that have unique optical, chemical, and electrochemical properties resulting from their small size. Because the size defines their properties, MPC particle size fractionation is important for control of the MPC characteristics for use in many potential applications. This paper explores the use of continuous free-flow electrophoresis (CFE) for the size fractionation of N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)glycine (tiopronin) monolayer protected gold clusters into monodisperse nanoparticle samples. CFE is a fractionation technique that isolates monodisperse particle sizes into several different collection vials on the tens of milligrams scale. This allows the MPCs to be separated based on their electrophoretic mobilities into isolated, monodisperse particles across a wide range of sizes. CFE separation of water-soluble tiopronin MPCs yielded fractions that varied in color, UV-visible spectra, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) size histograms, and solubility, indicating narrow size dispersity in the isolated fractions. UV-visible spectrophotometry verified the separation of the tiopronin MPCs through the inspection of surface plasmon resonance peak sizes for the different fractions. TEM was also used to verify the narrowed dispersity of MPC samples. The ability to separate water-soluble nanoparticles into 30 or more fractions in a continuous flow process will enable future studies on their size dependent properties.     

Magnetic properties of nanocrystalline La0.52Sr0.28Mn1.2O3

Phase-pure La_0.52Sr_0.28Mn_1.2O₃ manganite nanopowders with average crystallite sizes of 30, 60, and 200 nm have been synthesized using coprecipitation and multiple cold isostatic pressing at 1 GPa. The crystallite size is shown to have a significant effect on the electrical and magnetic properties of the nanopowders: with decreasing particle size, their resistivity rises by several orders of magnitude, their Curie temperature decreases significantly, and the peak in their magnetic susceptibility broadens. The electrical and magnetic properties of powder compacts are compared to those of ceramic samples. The powder compacts show conventional magnetic hysteresis behavior, whereas the ceramics produced by sintering the compacts at 1270 K have an anomalous hysteresis. A mechanism is proposed that accounts for the anomalous hysteresis behavior.     

Effect of annealing on magnetic properties of Ni80Fe20 permalloy nanoparticles prepared by polyol method

Ni80Fe20 permalloy nanoparticles with narrow size distribution and homogeneous composition have been prepared by the polyol processing at 180 degrees C for 2 h and their particle sizes can be tunable in the size range of 20-440 nm by proper addition of K2PtCI4 agent. X-ray diffraction results show that the NiFe nanoparticles are of face centered cubic structure. The addition of K2PtCl4 does not affect the composition of NiFe NPs but decreases the particle size remarkably. Both saturation magnetization and coercivity of the as-prepared NiFe nanoparticles decrease with decreasing particle size. Annealed at 280 degrees C, however, the saturation magnetization of various sized NiFe nanoparticles increases drastically and approaches to the bulk for the -440 nm NiFe particles, and a maximum coercivity (-270 Oe) happens at a critical size of -50 nm. The magnetic property dependency of these NiFe nanoparticles on annealing has been discussed by considering the surface chemistry.     

Influence of particle size on electrical transport properties of La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 manganite system

A systematic investigation of lanthanum-based manganite, La0.67Sr0.33MnO3, has been undertaken with a view to understand the influence of varying particle sizes on electrical transport properties. With a view to obtain materials with varying particle size, they were prepared by sol-gel route, sintering at four different temperatures. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD data has been analyzed by Rietveld refinement technique and it has been confirmed that the materials have rhombohedral crystal structure with R3c space group. Metal-insulator transition temperatures (Tp) were found to decrease continuously with decreasing particle size where as ferro to paramagnetic transition temperatures (Tc) are found to remain constant. The magnetoresistance (MR) values are found to increase with decreasing particle size. With a view to understand the conduction mechanism, the electrical resistivity data have been analyzed both in the ferromagnetic metallic (T < Tp) as well as high temperature paramagnetic insulating (T > Tp) regions.     

Size and surface effects on magnetic properties of Fe3O4 nanoparticles

In this study, size and surface effects on temperature and frequency dependent magnetic properties of superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles in a size range of 1.1-11 nm are investigated by SPR technique. We used a theoretical formalism based on a distribution of diameters or volumes of the nanoparticles following lognormal proposed by Berger et al. The nanoparticles are considered as single magnetic domains with random orientations of magnetic moments and thermal fluctuations of anisotropic axes. The individual line shape function is derived from the damped precession equation of Landau-Lifshitz. Magnetic properties of the samples were strongly temperature and size dependent. The increase in SPR line width, the decrease in the resonance field and also increase in anisotropy filed by decreasing the temperature core-shell type structure of the nanoparticles and disordered magnetic structure (spin-glass like phase) of the particle surface. A linear microwave frequency dependence of the resonance field and the increase in the blocking temperature of the particles by the particle size were also observed.     

无铅BaTiO_3系热敏电阻及其PTC性能的研究进展

通常在BaTiO3中固溶PbTiO3来提高BaTiO3系PTCR的居里温度,但是铅的毒性和挥发性限制了BaTiO3系PTCR的应用,因此需要研制出高居里点的无铅PTCR陶瓷。随着BNT、BKT含量增加,BaTiO3系PT-CR的居里点升高,但同时室温电阻快速增大。若在提高居里点的同时抑制室温电阻率的增大,就能制备出有实用价值的无铅高居里点的PTC材料。综述了BNT、BKT的含量对居里温度的影响及其机理,通过加入还原剂或在还原气氛下烧结并制定合理的烧结制度可以得到低室温电阻率和性能较好的PTC材料。     

Magnetomicelles: composite nanostructures from magnetic nanoparticles and cross-linked amphiphilic block copolymers

We report the synthesis, characterization, and covalent surface chemistry of "magnetomicelles", cross-linked, amphiphilic block-copolymer micelles that encapsulate superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. Because these composite nanostructures assemble spontaneously from solution by simultaneous desolvation of nanoparticle and amphiphilic poly(styrene(250)-block-acrylic acid(13)) components, explicit surface functionalization of the particles is not required, and the encapsulation method was applied to different magnetic nanoparticle sizes and compositions. TEM images of the magnetomicelles illustrated that the number of encapsulated particles could be dictated rationally by synthetic conditions. The magnetic properties of the particles were characterized by SQUID magnetometry and followed the general Langevin magnetic model for superparamagnetic materials. The micellar shells of these particles were functionalized using covalent chemistry that would not ordinarily be possible on the magnetic particle surface. As a result, this noncovalent approach provides a new route to technological applications of hydrophobic magnetic nanomaterials that lack appropriate conjugate surface chemistry.     

Rational design of new materials for spintronics: Co2FeZ (Z=Al,Ga, Si,Ge)

Abstract

Spintronic is a multidisciplinary field and a new research area. New materials must be found for satisfying the different types of demands. The search for stable half-metallic ferromagnets and ferromagnetic semiconductors with Curie temperatures higher than room temperature is still a challenge for solid state scientists. A general understanding of how structures are related to properties is a necessary prerequisite for material design. Computational simulations are an important tool for a rational design of new materials. The new developments in this new field are reported from the point of view of material scientists. The development of magnetic Heusler compounds specifically designed as material for spintronic applications has made tremendous progress in the very recent past. Heusler compounds can be made as half-metals, showing a high spin polarization of the conduction electrons of up to 100% in magnetic tunnel junctions. High Curie temperatures were found in Co₂-based Heusler compounds with values up to 1120 K in Co₂FeSi. The latest results at the time of writing are a tunnelling magnet resistance (TMR) device made from the Co₂FeAl_0.5Si_0.5 Heusler compound and working at room temperature with a (TMR) effect higher than 200%. Good interfaces and a well-ordered compound are the precondition to realize the predicted half-metallic properties. The series Co₂FeAl_{1- x}Si_x is found to exhibit half-metallic ferromagnetism over a broad range, and it is shown that electron doping stabilizes the gap in the minority states for x=0.5. This might be a reason for the exceptional temperature behaviour of Co₂FeAl_0.5Si_0.5 TMR devices. Using x-ray diffraction (XRD), it was shown conclusively that Co₂FeAl crystallizes in the B2 structure whereas Co₂FeSi crystallizes in the L2₁ structure. For the compounds Co₂FeGa or Co₂FeGe, with Curie temperatures expected higher than 1000 K, the standard XRD technique using laboratory sources cannot be used to easily distinguish between the two structures. For this reason, the EXAFS technique was used to elucidate the structure of these two compounds. Analysis of the data indicated that both compounds crystallize in the L2₁ structure which makes these two compounds suitable new candidates as materials in magnetic tunnel junctions.     

锌锰掺杂Fe3O4纳米颗粒的尺寸可控合成

锌锰掺杂的Fe₃O₄纳米颗粒具有优异的磁性能, 在生物医药领域有广泛的应用前景。磁性纳米颗粒的尺寸与其磁学性质以及生物磁性应用密切相关。因此, 为了适应不同生物应用对尺寸的需求, 研究其尺寸调控具有重要的意义。在本研究中, 我们采用高温热分解法, 通过加入还原剂1,2-十六烷二醇, 改变金属前躯体和回流时间成功制备了尺寸在5~20 nm的锌锰掺杂Fe₃O₄纳米颗粒。研究发现:强还原剂1,2-十六烷二醇的加入有利于合成小尺寸的纳米颗粒, 而以金属氯化物作为金属前躯体和延长回流时间可以进一步合成更大尺寸的纳米颗粒; 纳米颗粒的饱和磁化强度随着尺寸的增大而增大。     

不同粒径Gd2Ba4CuNbOy纳米粒子掺杂对GdBCO块材性能的影响

采用顶部籽晶熔融织构方法（TSMTG）成功制备出掺杂不同粒径Gd_2Ba_4CuNbO_（？）纳米粒子的单畴GdBCO超导块材,研究其对超导块材的生长形貌和磁悬浮力的影响,结果表明,在该条件下制备出的单畴GdBCO超导块材样品上表面十字花纹明显,且四个单畴扇区光滑平整;样品的磁悬浮力随着Gd_2Ba_4CuNbO_y粒径的增大有逐渐减小的趋势,当过筛目数n=360目时,样品的磁悬浮力最大,约25N;利用环境扫描电子显微镜技术（SEM）观察了样品的微观形貌,结果显示,随着掺杂粉体过筛目数的减小,样品中Gd_2Ba_4Cu NbO_y纳米粒子的分布越来越均匀且粒径逐渐增大。实验结果对进一步提高GdBCO超导块材的性能具有重要的借鉴作用