Magnetic nanoparticles

Iron-platinum nanoparticles are known for their interesting magnetic properties. At the ESRF, they were subjected to successive treatments. The structural changes and their influence on the element-specific magnetic moments were monitored by the analysis of the X-ray absorption near-edge structure and the X-ray magnetic circular dichroism.

The synthesised Fe₅₀Pt₅₀ particles were self-assembled on a silicon substrate and exposed to a soft hydrogen plasma. They were then annealed at 600°C in order to
achieve the chemically-ordered L10 phase. (Image credit: C. Antoniak, copyright 2005 C. Antoniak.).

Further information:

• Plasma-assisted Magnetic Hardening of FePt Nanoparticles Investigated by X-ray Absorption
• C. Antoniak et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 117201 (2006).