Small Angle Neutron Scattering

(SANS) Studies of Magnetic

Correlation Lengths in
Nanoparticle Assemblies

The Majetich Group and co-workers Yumi Ijiri

(Oberlin College), Julie Borchers and Kathryn
Krycka (NIST NCNR), and Jim Rhyne (LANL)

SmallAngleNeutronScattering
(SANS)

Compare scattering with, without H, OR use spin polarized neutrons

SANSofCoNanoparticleCrystals
(Unpolarized)

Diffractionlikepeak

associatedwithparticlespacing

Q 2 /d

UpturnatLowQ

associatedwithmagnetic
correlationsextendingover
multipleparticles
8.1nmCo,H=0,T=5K

SAXSofNanoparticleCrystals
x=10.3 nm

8.5 nm Fe

-2
-4

d=8.5 nm

-6 Typically

better for
higher Q range than
-8
SANS, but SANS
better at low Q

S. A. Majetich, T. Wen, and R. Booth, ACS Nano 5, 6081-6084

(2011)).

PolarizedSANSApparatus
FeSi Super
Mirror

Polarized 3He
Cell*

FeSi super mirror (SM) can achieve polarization of 95+%

3He cell covers diffracted beam, but has lower transmission
and polarization, and polarization decays with time.
* Polarized 3He cells provided by Wangchun Chen and Shannon Watson

PolarizedSANS
Neutrons scatter from all
nuclei (b), but are only
sensitive to M
perpendicular to Q

Y
-Z

Non-Spin Flip involves

nuclear and M
polarization
2
I ,

|
b

M
|
NSF
c
Q,||Polarization(xaxis)

Polarize neutrons along x

Spin-Flip involvesM
polarization
2
I ,

(M

iM
)
|
SF
Q,yaxis
Q,zaxis

R. M. Moon, T. Riste, and W. C. Koehler, Phys. Rev. 181, 920 (1969)

PolarizedSANSwithH=1.2T
9 nm Fe3O4nanoparticle crystals

Unequivocally differentiate magnetic and nuclear scattering,

determine length scales of Mx , My , Mz correlations
K. L. Krycka, J. A. Borchers, J. A. Borchers, Y. Ijiri, W. C. Chen. S. M. Watson, M. Laver,
T. R. Gentile, S. Harris, L. R. Dedon, J. J. Rhyne, and S. A. Majetich, Phys. Rev. Lett. 104
207203 (2010).

Magnetite PASANS data

N2 fit with 9 nm spheres in
FCC arrangement, M2parl
similar but weaker
M2perp shows prominent
dip, fit with form factor
from a spherical shell with
9 nm OD and 7.4 nm ID

9 nm Fe3O4
nanoparticles

PolarizedSANSCoreShellModel
9 nm Fe3O4 nanoparticles
H = 1.2 T

PolarizedSANSCoreShellModel
9 nm Fe3O4 nanoparticles

H = 1.2 T

Need structure factor of FCC nanoparticle crystal and form

factor of spherical shell

PolarizedSANSCoreShellModel
9 nm Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Dont see when H = 0

Shell thickness changes reversibly
with H, T
Core-shell transition probably
gradual, not abrupt
Driven by reduction of exchange
energy for surface spins, competition
with Zeeman energy

Energy contributions at 160 K

In Fe3O4 NPs exchange
and Zeeman energy
dominate, dipolar and
anisotropy help shape
energetic landscape
Energetic minimum for
30 canted shell with 1
nm thickness
Consistent with
PASANS data, t~1 nm at
160 K
K. L. Krycka, J. A. Borchers, R.A. Booth, Y. Ijiri, K. Hasz, J. J. Rhyne, and S. A. Majetich, Phys.
Rev. Lett. 113, 147203 (2014).