High Saturation Magnetization Research Articles

The effect of vanadium on the magnetic and mechanical properties of B2 FeCo alloy: a DFT approach

FeCo alloys play an important role in soft magnetic materials with a wide range of technological applications due to their high saturation magnetization and Curie temperature. However, these alloys have low ductility at room temperature. The ductility can be improved by the ternary addition of elements such as V. A density functional theory supercell approach was used to generate B2 Fe50Co50-xVx (0 < x < 50) structures and the properties were evaluated at different atomic percentage compositions to determine the ductility at room temperature. The structures were fully optimized to obtain better equilibrium ground-state properties such as lattice parameters and thermodynamic properties for both binary and ternary systems. The stability of Fe50Co50-xVx was evaluated from the heats of formation, elastic properties, and phonon dispersion curves. Furthermore, magnetic strength was evaluated from magnetic moments. It was found that all structures are thermodynamically stable due to the negative heats of formation. The calculated Pugh's ratio and Poisson's ratio confirm that alloying with V effectively improved the ductility. It was also found that Fe50Co50-xVx showed a positive shear modulus for the entire concentration range investigated, in agreement with phonon dispersion curves. The ternary addition of V to the FeCo system resulted in reduced magnetic strength due to a decrease in magnetic moments. These findings reveal that B2 FeCo-V alloys can be used as components and actuators for the automotive industry.

Spin dynamics investigation and structural analysis of ambient scalable Sr2+ doped zirconium ferrite nanoparticles synthesized by low temperature auto combustion route

Microwave spin resonance behaviour of Sr2+ doped Zirconium ferrite Zr1-xSrxFe2O4; (0 ≤ x ≥ 0.20) nanoparticles synthesized by auto combustion route has been investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) which show a broad ferromagnetic resonance signal with a superimposed hump signal which is attributed to ferrite Fe3+ ions and oxygen vacancies which is in agreement with XRD and XPS. EPR shows low spin concentration and smaller relaxation time for Zr0.80Sr0.20Fe2O4 which can be used for hyperthermia and for use as a MRI contrast agent. EDS and XPS confirms the presence of Zr, Sr, Fe, O, and C and HRTEM images confirm growth along (220) and (311) with an interatomic distance of 0.3327 nm and 0.2622 nm respectively, thus, authenticating the formation of spinel structure in agreement with FTIR studies. The magnetic behaviour (M − H loop) shows high saturation magnetization and higher value of effective magnetocrystalline anisotropy (Keff) for Zr0.80Sr0.20Fe2O4.

The role of Cu element in Fe9.4Co6.7Ni6.6Mn0.9V0.9Cu2.4 magnetic high-entropy alloys

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) technology has obvious advantages in the preparation of high entropy alloys (HEAs) with high mechanical properties, but the mechanism of their magnetic enhancement is not clear. In this work, HEAs with high saturation magnetization (Ms) and excellent mechanical properties were designed and prepared. The properties of Fe9.4Co6.7Ni6.6Mn0.9V0.9 HEA were optimized by adding Cu element, and the main phase of the HEAs was (face-centered cubic) FCC phase. The addition of Cu element mitigates the distortion of the FCC phase, resulting in an increase in the intensity of Ms value for the alloy from 118 emu/g to 143.7 emu/g. However, this also leads to a slight reduction in yield strength while still maintaining a high level at 1132 MPa. Theoretical calculations based on first principles indicate that the magnetic enhancement of these alloys is facilitated by an increase in the atomic magnetic moments of their ferromagnetic constituents.

Investigation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in air environment for elevated saturation magnetization

Iron oxide nanoparticles have garnered interest for their unique properties and wide application areas. For applications, superparamagnetic nanoparticles are required so that they can be magnetized by an external magnetic field and rapidly demagnetize again when the field is removed. High saturation magnetization, Ms is also required for applications to provide easy magnetic control over separation and targeting. For magnetically controlled applications, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with a high Ms are important. In this study, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were co-precipitated under air atmosphere and the effects of alkali concentration, stirring rate and reaction time on the structural and related magnetic properties were investigated to obtain the high Ms for each parameter. According to the structural results, it is challenging to obtain magnetite nanoparticles under air atmosphere due to oxidizing effect. The increase of Ms values with the increase of alkali concentration may come from the phase of the samples although the crystal size of the nanoparticles is getting smaller. It can be said that there is an optimum stirring rate to obtain the highest Ms under air atmosphere rather than an uptrend/downtrend. The maximum Ms of 69.2 emu g−1 was obtained for superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized at 700 rpm. With the increase of reaction time, magnetic size of the nanoparticles is observed to decrease in contrast with the increase of physical particle size. The maximum Ms value for the reaction time parameter is 67.3 emu g−1 at 15 min. Due to their high Ms values and superparamagnetic nature, the nanoparticles synthesized under study may find use in magnetic separation, water purification, and other related fields.

Inkjet Printing of Cobalt Ferrite for Hard Ferromagnetic Thick Films Manufacturing

Inkjet printing is a versatile and cheap technique for the fabrication of films, offering unique advantages in terms of scalability, precision, and customization. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in utilizing inkjet printing technology for the deposition of magnetic films with tailored properties. Cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) stands out due to its exceptional magnetic properties, including high coercivity, saturation magnetization, and excellent chemical stability. This paper presents a comprehensive study on the inkjet printing of cobalt ferrite magnetic films, focusing on the manufacturing process, especially on the different factors that could lead to stable multilayer depositions to achieve high thicknesses: ink solid loading, drop spacing, substrate temperature, and interlayers drying. Finally, the microstructure of the samples is investigated to identify the occurring defects after sintering between 800 and 1000 °C. The magnetic properties of the films are determined, revealing a maximum coercivity of 1.98 kOe and a magnetic saturation of 78.25 emu cm−3.

Sustainable removal of tetracycline and paracetamol from water using magnetic activated carbon derived from pine fruit waste

This work presents highly porous magnetic activated carbon nanoparticles (MPFRC-A) derived from pine fruit residue. The MPFRC-A were produced through a three-step process: physical activation (carbonization temperature: 110–550 °C), chemical activation (H2SO4 (0.1 N, 96%)), and co-precipitation. These nanoparticles were then used to remove tetracycline (TC) and paracetamol (PC) from water. Functionalization with Fe3O4 nanoparticles on the surface of the pine fruit residue-derived activated carbon (PFRC-A) resulted in high saturation magnetization, allowing for separation from aqueous solution using an external magnet. The MPFRC-A adsorbent was characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses, In the experimental section, the effects of various factors on the adsorption process were investigated, including pH, contact time, initial pollutant concentrations, adsorbent dosage, and temperature. Based on these investigations, adsorption isotherm models and kinetics were studied and determined. The results showed that MPFRC-A exhibited a large specific surface area (182.5 m2/g) and a high total pore volume (0.33 cm3/g). The maximum adsorption capacity was achieved at pH 6 and 5 for PC and TC drugs with an adsorbent dose of 400 mg and an initial concentration of 20 mg/L at 25 °C. The study revealed that the experimental data were well-fitted by the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 > 0.98), with maximum uptake capacities of 43.75 mg/g for TC and 41.7 mg/g for PC. Outcomes of the adsorption thermodynamics shows non-spontaneity of the reaction and the adsorption process by all adsorbents was endothermic.

Investigation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in air environment for elevated saturation magnetization

Abstract Iron oxide nanoparticles have garnered interest for their unique properties and wide application areas. For applications, superparamagnetic nanoparticles are required so that they can be magnetized by an external magnetic field and rapidly demagnetize again when the field is removed. High saturation magnetization, Ms is also required for applications to provide easy magnetic control over separation and targeting. For magnetically controlled applications, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with a high Ms are important. In this study, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were co-precipitated under air atmosphere and the effects of alkali concentration, stirring rate and reaction time on the structural and related magnetic properties were investigated to obtain the high Ms for each parameter. According to the structural results, it is challenging to obtain magnetite nanoparticles under air atmosphere due to oxidizing effect. The increase of Ms values with the increase of alkali concentration may come from the phase of the samples although the crystal size of the nanoparticles is getting smaller. It can be said that there is an optimum stirring rate to obtain the highest Ms under air atmosphere rather than an uptrend/downtrend. The maximum Ms of 69.2 emu/g was obtained for superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized at 700 rpm. With the increase of reaction time, magnetic size of the nanoparticles is observed to decrease in contrast with the increase of physical particle size. The maximum Ms value for the reaction time parameter is 67.3 emu/g at 15 minutes. Due to their high Ms values and superparamagnetic nature, the nanoparticles synthesized under study may find use in magnetic separation, water purification, and other related fields.

N-doped CNTs/CoNi nanochains-carbon hollow microspheres multi-level multi-scale heterogeneous interface structures and microwave absorption properties

Constructing multi-level multi-scale heterogeneous interfaces in magnetic carbon-based composites remains a formidable challenge, requiring rational material combinations to effectively balance dielectric and magnetic losses for achieving high strength and wide frequency wave absorption. Electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbing materials consisted of cobalt-nickel (CoNi) magnetic nanochain, nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) and hollow carbon microspheres were prepared by hydrothermal method without external magnetic field. These composites possessed a unique multi-level multi-scale heterogeneous interface structure that is highly advantageous for efficient absorption of EMWs. The CoNi nanoparticles were self-assembled into uniformly distributed and randomly oriented magnetic nanochains, which were further reassembled with NCNTs and hollow carbon microspheres to form heterogeneous interface structures resembling a rose, chrysanthemum, hedgehog ball, and bauhinia tree. Due to the high-density interface enhancing the loss ability of interface polarization, as well as the higher saturation magnetization, coercivity, and wave absorption ability of the magnetic nanochains compared to the magnetic nanoparticles themselves, the minimum reflection loss achieved is −66.86 dB, and the effective absorption bandwidth achieved is 5.01 GHz, at a content as low as 11 wt%. This study provides a new idea for generating nanochains without magnetic fields and constructing multi-level and multi-scale heterogeneous interface structures to achieve strong absorption and wide effective absorption bandwidth (EAB).

Enhanced cation ordering, electron-spin-phonon interactions and Fano resonance in half-metallic Sr2FeMoO6 thin films

We report the presence of electron-spin-phonon interactions in half-metallic ferromagnetic Sr2FeMoO6 (SFMO) double perovskite thin films using temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy. A series of SFMO thin films have been prepared on LaAlO3 (001) single-crystal substrate using the Pulsed Laser Deposition technique. These depositions have been made in different gas-conditions such as in vacuum, and under nitrogen and oxygen gas pressures. At room temperature, Raman spectra manifest a Fano feature which indicates the presence of electron-phonon coupling in the films. The electron-phonon coupling strength further changes with a change in deposition conditions. Magnetization results show that the SFMO film grown in vacuum has the highest saturation magnetization which suggests better cation ordering as compared to the other films. For enhanced understanding, Raman spectra were recorded at varied temperatures and the data were analyzed by theoretical model fittings. A parameter quantifying temperature-dependent anharmonic nature of phonons has been derived using Balkanski model fits. This parameter shows a drastic deviation in the vicinity of Curie temperatures, manifesting a spin-phonon coupling in SFMO films. We further show that the spin-phonon coupling strengthens with improved Fe–Mo ordering. Any experimental observation of spin-phonon coupling has not been reported for SFMO systems till date. The magnetization data corroborate well with these observations made by Raman measurements. Our results of Raman spectroscopy, magnetization and resistivity collectively suggest that the SFMO films exhibit electron-spin-phonon interactions, which are influenced by the cation ordering. We also devised out the method of relating the anharmonic nature of Raman modes with the degree of Fe–Mo ordering and spin-phonon coupling in double-perovskite materials.

FeCo@hydrochar nanocomposites as efficient peroxymonosulfate activator for organic pollutant degradation.

Sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) are renowned for their exceptional capacity to degrade refractory organic pollutants due to their wide applicability, cost-effectiveness, and swift mineralization and oxidation rates. The primary sources of radicals in AOPs are persulfate (PS) and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) ions, sparking significant interest in their mechanistic and catalytic aspects. To develop a novel nanocatalyst for SR-AOPs, particularly for PMS activation, we synthesized carbon-coated FeCo nanoparticles (NPs) using solvothermal methods based on the polyol approach. Various synthesis conditions were investigated, and the NPs were thoroughly characterized regarding their structure, morphology, magnetic properties, and catalytic efficiency. The FeCo phase was primarily obtained at [OH-] / [Metal] = 26 and [Fe] / [Co] = 2 ratios. Moreover, as the [Fe]/[Co] ratio increased, the degree of xylose carbonization to form a carbon coating (hydrochar) on the NPs also increased. The NPs exhibited a spherical morphology with agglomerates of varying sizes. Vibrating-sample magnetometer analysis (VSM) indicated that a higher proportion of iron resulted in NPs with higher saturation magnetization (up to 167.8 emu g-1), attributed to a larger proportion of FeCo bcc phase in the nanocomposite. The best catalytic conditions for degrading 100ppm Rhodamine B (RhB) included 0.05g L-1 of NPs, 2mM PMS, pH 7.0, and a 20-min reaction at 25°C. Notably, singlet oxygen was the predominant specie formed in the experiments in the SR-AOP, followed by sulfate and hydroxyl radicals. The catalyst could be reused for up to five cycles, retaining over 98% RhB degradation, albeit with increased metal leaching. Even in the first use, dissolved Fe and Co concentrations were 0.8 ± 0.3 and 4.0 ± 0.5mg L-1, respectively. The FeCo catalyst proved to be effective in dye degradation and offers the potential for further refinement to minimize Co2+ leaching.

Prediction of NdFe16-based permanent-magnet compounds with high magnetization

We find a candidate for new permanent-magnet materials with the 1–16 stoichiometry on the basis of first-principles calculations utilizing a materials database. An extremely iron-rich NdFe16 compound shows exceptionally high saturation magnetization with an adequate magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy and Curie temperature. Although it has an excessive formation energy in its binary composition, introducing interstitial light elements into NdFe16 successfully decreases the formation energy while maintaining its superior magnetic properties. The density of states explains the alteration of magnetization from incorporating light elements.

Development of high-performance Fe-rich Fe–P–C amorphous alloys with enhanced magnetization and low coercivity

Using melt spinning technology, we successfully synthesized a series of Fe-rich Fe–P–C amorphous alloys exhibiting high saturation magnetization (Bs), low coercivity (Hc), and excellent bending ductility. These alloys exhibit low Hc values ranging from 4.1 to 7.2 A/m, and high Bs values ranging from 1.58 to 1.68 ​T. Particularly, after annealing at 588 ​K for 900 ​s, the Fe83P11C6 amorphous alloy showed extraordinary soft magnetic properties: Bs up to 1.68 ​T, Hc only 4.7 A/m, and the core loss at approximately 1.5 ​W/kg under the condition of 0.5 ​T and 50 ​Hz, all of which surpass the reported Fe–P–C ternary amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys. These Fe-rich Fe–P–C alloy ribbon samples exhibit favorable bending ductility in both the as-spun and annealed states. Their simple alloy composition, outstanding soft magnetic properties, and excellent flexibility collectively make these soft magnetic alloys highly promising candidate materials for industrial applications.

The role of Cr in optimizing properties of Fe–B–C–P–Si–Mo–Cr metallic glasses for applications

With the rapid development of third-generation semiconductors, there is an urgent need to develop high-performance soft magnetic Fe-based metallic glasses tailored particularly for their high-frequency applications. In this work, new Fe76−yB7C7P7Si3Moy−xCrx (y = 0, 1, 2, 3 at.%, x ≤ y) alloys with relatively high glass-forming ability (GFA) were developed. The effects of replacing Mo with Cr on GFA, thermodynamic properties, soft magnetic properties, electrical resistivity (ρ), and corrosion resistance at different Fe contents were systematically studied. The possible causes of GFA variation were discussed. The results show that the addition of a small amount of Cr replacing Mo under different Fe contents would not lead to a decrease in GFA. The critical sizes of Cr-containing glassy alloys are 1–2.5 mm. These alloys possess relatively high saturation magnetization (Ms) of 1.29–1.41 T and lower coercivity (Hc) of 0.7–1.8 A/m, contributing to the reduction of hysteresis loss. In addition, Cr increases ρ of the alloys, reaching up to 162 μΩ cm, which is beneficial to reducing eddy current loss at high frequency. Furthermore, Cr effectively enhances corrosion resistance, thereby increasing the service life of the alloys in harsh environments. The role of Cr in these aspects makes it a beneficial element in soft magnetic metallic glasses for high-frequency applications.

A novel Fe87Pr11B2 amorphous alloy with outstanding magnetocaloric properties near 325 K

A novel Fe87Pr11B2 metallic glass that exhibits outstanding magnetocaloric effect near room temperature was prepared into the shape of amorphous ribbons. The ribbon exhibits soft magnetic properties and high saturation magnetization at 200 K, which is much lower than its Curie temperature at 325 K. No obvious spin-glass-like behavior was found above 200 K. The almost highest maximum magnetic entropy change (−ΔSmpeak) among Fe-based metallic glasses near the hot end of a residential magnetic refrigerator is most likely attributed to the high concentration of Pr and low content of B in the Fe87Pr11B2 amorphous ribbon. The high −ΔSmpeak, large refrigeration capacity (RC) and adiabatic temperature rise (ΔTad) make the Fe87Pr11B2 amorphous alloy better candidate for the potential component of a refrigerant working in a high-efficiency residential magnetic refrigerator.

Nanostructured FeCo films of exceptionally high saturation magnetisation

Nanostructured FeCo films comprising small (2.1 nm mean diameter) Co nanoparticles deposited into an Fe matrix are investigated by magnetometry, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD). Similar films were previously reported to possess a saturation magnetisation of up to 3 µB/atom, thus exceeding the Slater-Pauling limit by a significant margin. The present work confirms the previous findings by magnetometry and demonstrates that the Co nanoparticles maintain their particulate identity within the film while adopting the crystallographic structure of the Fe matrix. The films show no evidence for voids or porosity (they exhibit the bulk density). An important factor in the high magnetisation in the films is an enhanced magnetic moment on the Co atoms, which XMCD indicates to be at least 2.21 µB, i.e., 30 % larger than the bulk value for metallic cobalt.

Insulation coating via hydrothermal oxidation for high-frequency FeSiAl soft magnetic composites

Soft magnetic composites (SMCs) play a crucial role in electronic devices owing to their high saturation magnetization. However, conventional insulation methods employed in SMCs exhibit inadequate insulation reliability, thereby restricting their further application in high frequencies. In this study, hydrothermal oxidation is introduced for insulation coating in the preparation of FeSiAl SMCs. When treated at 150 ℃ for 2 h, an insulation layer comprising of Al2O3, SiO2, Fe3O4 and Fe2O3 is formed on the surface of FeSiAl. The most optimal sample is achieved with saturation magnetization of 134.3 emu/g, presenting no significant reduction in saturation magnetization compared to the untreated sample. Cut-off frequency exceeding 300 MHz, and power loss of 503.7 kW/m3 (@7 MHz, 5 mT) are also obtained. This study suggests that hydrothermal oxidation could be a dependable method for fabricating high-frequency SMCs.

In–Sn–Cu co-doped yttrium iron garnet ferrite: Magnetic and dielectric properties

With the miniaturization and integration of electronic components, there has been widespread attention on yttrium iron garnet ferrite (YIG) with high saturation magnetization, high dielectric constant, and low ferromagnetic resonance linewidth. In this work, In–Sn–Cu co-doped YIG ferrite with the chemical formula Y3Fe4.8-xCu0.1Sn0.1InxO12 (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30) was prepared. The properties of the samples, including their microstructure, crystal structure, magnetic attributes, and dielectric properties, were adjusted through the regulation of the indium doping levels. The microscopic and crystal structures confirm the effective doping of ions in YIG, resulting in an expansion of the lattice parameters. Both the saturation magnetization (Ms) and the ferromagnetic resonance linewidth (ΔH) are influenced by the level of doping. The maximum value of Ms is observed at x = 0.10 (30.86 emu/g), whereas the minimum value of ΔH occurs at x = 0.20 (35 Oe). Additionally, increasing doping concentration also leads to an upward trend in both resistivity and dielectric constant, with the lowest dielectric loss occurring at x = 0.15. This study will provide an effective approach for developing high-performance YIG ferrite that meets the requirements of miniaturization and integration.

Efficient adsorptive removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) using biomass derived magnetic activated carbon nanocomposite in synthetic and simulated agricultural runoff water

This study focused on evaluating the efficacy of a magnetic activated carbon material (CPAC@Fe3O4) derived from pods of copper pod tree in adsorbing the toxic herbicide, 2,4- (2,4-D) from aqueous solutions. The synthesized CPAC@Fe3O4 adsorbent, underwent various characterization techniques. FESEM images indicated a rough surface, incorporating iron oxide nanoparticles, while EDS analysis confirmed the presence of elements like Fe, O, and C. Notably, the CPAC@Fe3O4 exhibited high surface area (749.10 m2/g) and pore volume (0.5351 cm³/g), confirming its mesoporous nature. XRD investigations identified distinct signals associated with graphitic carbon and magnetite nanoparticles, while VSM analysis verified its magnetic properties with a high magnetic saturation value (2.72 emu/g). The adsorption process was exothermic, with a decrease in adsorption capacity at higher temperatures. Freundlich isotherm provided the best fit for the adsorption, and the pseudo-second-order equation effectively described the kinetics. Remarkably, the maximum adsorption capacity ranged from 246.43 to 261.03 mg/g, surpassing previously reported values. The ΔH° value (−8.67 kJ/mol) suggested a physisorption mechanism, and the negative ΔG° values established the spontaneous nature. Furthermore, the synthesized adsorbent demonstrated exceptional reusability, allowing for up to five cycles of adsorption-desorption operations. When applied to simulated agricultural runoff, CPAC@Fe3O4 showcased a significant adsorption capacity of 160.71 mg/g for 50 mg/L 2,4-D, using a 0.2 g/L dosage at pH 2. This study showcased the transformation of copper pod biomass into a valuable magnetic nanoadsorbent capable of efficiently eliminating the noxious 2,4-D pollutant from aqueous environments.

Giant Magneto-Optical Effect in van der Waals Room-Temperature Ferromagnet Fe3GaTe2

Abstract The discovery of ferromagnetic two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdWs) materials provides an opportunity to explore intriguing physics and to develop innovative spin electronic devices. However, the main challenge for practical applications of vdWs ferromagnetic crystals lies in the weak intrinsic ferromagnetism and small perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) above room temperature. Here, we report the intrinsic vdWs ferromagnetic crystal Fe3GaTe2, synthesized by the self-flux method, exhibiting a Curie temperature (T C) of 370 K, a high saturation magnetization of 33.47 emu/g, and a large PMA energy density of approximately 4.17 × 105 J/m3. Furthermore, the magneto-optical effect is systematically investigated in Fe3GaTe2. The doubly degenerate E 2g (Γ) mode reverses the helicity of incident photons, indicating the existence of pseudoangular-momentum (PAM) and chirality. Meanwhile, the non-degenerate non-chiral A 1g(Γ) phonon exhibits a significant magneto-Raman effect under an external out-of-plane magnetic field. These results lay the groundwork for studying phonon chirality and magneto-optical phenomena in 2D magnetic materials, providing the feasibility for further fundamental research and applications in spintronic devices.

Fabrication of FeSiBPCNbCu nanocrystalline soft magnetic powders with high saturation magnetization and low core loss

Fabrication of FeSiBPCNbCu nanocrystalline soft magnetic powders with high saturation magnetization and low core loss