Structure and magnetism of transition metal-based nanoparticles

The aim of the work is characterization of structure and magnetic properties of various CoFe2O4/SiO2 nanocomposites. Emphasis was put on the corelation of the magnetic properties with particle size (samples with different annealing temperature) and with strenght of the interparticle interactions (samples with different Fe/Si ratio or without silica matrix). Structure properties of all samples were determinated by powder x-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Magnetic properties were determinated by standard (temperature dependence of magnetization, magnetization isotherms) and advanced (a.c. susceptibility, memory effects) magnetic measurements. A sharp increase of the values of blocking temperature and coercivity with increase of strenght of the interparticle interactions and with increase of particle size was observed. Particle size determines the maximum value of coercivity and blocking temperature and strengh of the interparticle interactions shift this values in the interval determined by particle size