Spin-glass behavior of the polyvinyl pyrrolidone-protected Prussian blue analog K1.14Mn[Fe(CN)6]0.88 nanocubes

Abstract

Prussian Blue analog K1.14Mn[Fe(CN)6]0.88 nanocubes were synthesized by using polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as a protective matrix. The PVP-protected MnFe PBA nanocubes with face centered cubic structure are well dispersed with a narrow size distribution of around 50nm. A spin-glass behavior (including hysteresis, a peak in the zero-field-cooled magnetization and frequency-dependent AC magnetic susceptibility) is observed in the nanoparticles. A possible origin of this spin-glass freezing is discussed. Spin disorder due to the structural defects may be the reason that causes the spin-glass freezing in the MnFe PBA nanoparticles.