Saturation Magnetization and Law of Approach to Saturation for Self-formed Ionic Ferrofluids Based on MnFe2O4 Nanoparticles

Abstract

The magnetization curves of MnFe2O4 nanoparticles and self-formed ferrofluids based on these particles have been measured at room temperature. The median size of the particles is 13.67 nm. The specific saturation magnetization is less than the theoretical value for the ferrofluids. In the high field range from 5 kOe to 10 kOe, the higher the particle volume fraction is, the steeper the slope of the magnetization curves is when it approaches saturation. The behavior of the saturation magnetization and the law of approach to saturation are due to the presence of self-assembled aggregates of ring-like micelle structures which form in the absence of the magnetic field and field-induced aggregates, respectively. The field-induced aggregates have a dissipative structure, so that at high field, the law of approach to saturation magnetization is different from the one described using Langevin paramagnetism theory. The large particles in the ferrofluids result in apparent hysteresis.