Predictions of optimal heating by magnetic reversal behavior of magnetic nanowires (MNWs) with different materials

Abstract

Objective Magnetic nanowires (MNWs) are potential candidates for heating in biomedical applications that require rapid and uniform heating rates, such as warming cryopreserved organs and hyperthermia treatment of cancer cells. Therefore, it is essential to determine which materials and geometries will provide the optimal heating using available alternating magnetic fields (AMF). Method Micromagnetic simulations are used to investigate the heating ability of MNWs by predicting their hysteretic behavior. MNWs composed of iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) or permalloy (FeNi alloy, Py) with different diameters (10-200 nm) are simulated using object oriented micromagnetic framework (OOMMF). Results Hysteresis loops are obtained for each simulated MNW, and the 2D/3D magnetic moment map is simulated to show the reversal mechanism. The heating ability, in terms of specific loss power (SLP), is calculated from the area of the hysteresis loop times frequency for each MNW for comparison with others. Conclusion It is estimated that a theoretical optimal heating ability of 2730 W/g can be provided by isolated Co MNWs with 50 nm diameters using a typical AMF system that can supply 72 kA/m field amplitude and 50 kHz in frequency. Generalized correlation between coercivity and size/material of MNWs is provided as a guidance for researchers to choose the most appropriate MNW as a heater for their AMF system and vice versa.