Synthesis and characterization of FeRh nanoparticles

Fe0:8Rh0:2 nanoparticles with an average size of 1.8 nm have been synthesized by simultaneous decomposition of stoichiometric quantities of Fe[N(Si(CH3)(3))(2)](2) and Rh(C3H5)(3) in mild conditions of temperature and hydrogen pressure, using hexadecylamine as stabilizer. These nanoparticles display a magnetization of 1.13 mu B per iron atom, which is more than two times smaller than the bulk value with the same composition. No surface contamination with iron oxides was detected by Mossbauer spectroscopy. Superconducting quantum interference device and Mossbauer spectroscopy investigations reveal that the origin of this variation may be a core-shell Rh/Fe chemical arrangement