Magnetic properties of ultrafine nickel particles

Abstract

Ultrafine nickel particles have intriguing physical and chemical properties, which are interesting both in fundamental and applied research. The size of the particle was controlled by gas pressure. X-ray diffraction studies showed that fine Ni particles have fcc crystal structure and are coated with thin Ni oxide on the surface. Electron micrographs showed a spherical particle shape, forming a long chain. Size dependence of magnetic properties were studied. The specific magnetic moment drastically decreases when reducing the diameter d of particles <15 nm. The coercivity Hc also approaches zero when d is about 15 nm. Therefore, we can suppose that the critical size for superparamagnetism at room temperature is about 15 nm. According to the superparamagnetic formula KV=25 kT, the value of the magnetic anisotropy constant can be determined, K = −5.8 × 105 (erg/cc). It is found to be larger than bulk Ni [K=−3.4–5.1 × 104 (erg/cc)], the same as Fe particles. The maximum of coercivity at room temperature is about 250 Oe, that is less than the theory value for the coherent rotation model, Hc = 4 K/3Ms=1600 Oe. The mechanism of reversal magnetization can be understood by the sphere chain model. The critical diameter of the single domain is about 65 nm. Curie temperature Tc obviously decreases for 9-nm average diameter particles rather than bulk. It may be in connection with the lattice contraction.