NAP-2017, 2017 IEEE 7th International Conference on Nanomaterials: Applications and Properties (NAP)

Investigation of Optical Properties of Ferrofluid by

Using Magneto-optical Transmission and Linear
Dichroism
Mert Akyurekli Meltem Gonulol Alper Bayram Ismail Yarici Yavuz Ozturk
Cevre College, Celikoglu Department of Department of Department of
Istanbul, Turkey Department of Material Science Electrical and Electrical and
mert.akyurekli@ Physics, and Engineering, Electronics Electronics
hotmail.com Dokuz Eylül Ege University, Engineering, Engineering,
University, Izmir, Turkey Ege University, Ege University,
Izmir, Turkey aalperbayramm@ Izmir, Turkey Izmir, Turkey
g.meltem@ gmail.com ismail.yarici@ yavuz.ozturk@
gmail.com ege.edu.tr ege.edu.tr

Abstract—In this study, optical properties of produced
magnetic liquid investigated by means of optical transmission
and linear dichroism with respect to applied external magnetic
field up to 100 Oe. Magnetic fluid of around 7 pH value were
prepared by using magnetic nanoparticles synthesized by the co-
precipitation method, surfactant and carrier liquid. Also,
polarization dependent maximum transmission difference was
measured as 40% for polarization parallel and 20% for
polarization perpendicular to the applied field in the case of
magnetic field perpendicular to the optical path. Maximum
transmission change of %10 was obtained when the applied
magnetic field parallel to the optical path.
Keywords— Magneto-optical properties, ferrofluid, magnetic
nanoparticles, linear dichroism, transmission.
I. INTRODUCTION
Optic, electronic, magnetic and thermal behaviors of
nanostructures vary depending on their dimensions. Due to
these variations, recently nanoparticles are being used to
produce more beneficial materials. Nanotubes, nano thin
films, nanocrystals and similar materials are being
administered in different areas of research such as medicine,
pharmaceuticals and electronics [1].
Magnetic fluids mainly consists of magnetic nano
particles, carrier liquid and surfactant. Magnetic fluids are
promising materials for many technological applications due
to their unique properties of giving response to the applied
external magnetic field [2,3]. Although the magnetic fluids are
isotropic; with the applied external magnetic field they show
anisotropic characteristic and exhibit magneto- optic effects
like Faraday rotation, birefringence, magneto optical
transmission, linear dichroism and so on.
Light intensity changes after it gets thought the sample. If
the transmitted light intensity is different for the polarization
of light perpendicular to the applied magnetic field (P90) and
parallel to the applied magnetic field (P0) cases under
magnetic field, it is called magneto-optic linear dichroism
effect. This effect in a number of studies on this issue is
explained by the occurrence of chain structure of particles
under the uniform external magnetic field [4]. Interactions
between the magnetic nanoparticles that form the chain
structure and electric dipole cause different absorption values.
In literature linear dichroism and MO transmission effect
on magnetic fluid have been studied separately [5]. In our
study both MO effects were investigated on magnetic fluid, so
it may contribute to these kinds of studies. Another important
point of this study is that the pH value of the prepared solution
was balanced at 7.0 pH. In order to adjust the pH value of
solution organic acid was added into the mixture. So it may be
useful for biomedical and, medicine applications [6].
In the present study, magnetic fluid containing
nanoparticles were synthesized by using co-precipitation
method. The pH value, as one of the important parameters of
solution, was adjusted to 7.0 pH. The optical transmission and
linear dichroism properties of produced magnetic fluids were
investigated. For this purpose regarding to optic path and the
direction of applied magnetic field two different magneto-
optical experimental set-up were designed.
II. MATERIALS AND METHOD
A. Production of MNPs
Co-precipitation method was used for the synthesis of
magnetic nanoparticles. During production, FeCl3.6H2O
(2.703gr, 0.01mol) and FeCl2.4H2O (0.3976gr, 0.02mol)
solutions were prepared in separate beakers so that the initial
molar ratios are 1:2 [7]. FeCl3.6H2O was dissolved in deionized
water and FeCl2.4H2O was dissolved in 1M HCl. The solutions
prepared were mixed at ambient temperature for half an hour.
The solution was mixed at 400 rpm in the mechanic mixer and
at the same time, alkali solutions (Ammonium) were added
until the pH value reaches 11[8].
15 minutes after the chemical reaction, the residual
substances formed as a result of the reaction were washed 3
times with 5% ammonium solution and with the help of a
magnet. Afterwards, it was washed 3 times with distilled water

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 NAP-2017, 2017 IEEE 7th International Conference on Nanomaterials: Applications and Properties (NAP)
to purify the particles from ammonium. The solution that was
prepared was left inside the distilled water as magnetic liquid
and in order to prevent particle aggregation, they were coated
with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMA).
To provide proper sample for MOPs measurement system
with pH value (around 7), 1 ml TMA coated MNPs solution
were mixed with 0.5 ml oleic acid and 1.5 ml ethyl alcohol in
a vial.
B. Analysis
Dynamic Ligth Scattering (DLS:Malvern ZS-Nanosizer)
and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM: Digital
Measurement System JDM-13) were used for identifying the
average particle size and magnetic properties of MNPs
respectively
C. Designing of magneto-optical measurement system
Experimental set-up was created to analyze the MOPs of
ferrofluid as shown in figure 1. Halogen tungsten lamp used
as light source. The output of light was collimated before the
sample. The axis of electromagnet was arranged to be parallel
to the optical path. The relative light intensities measured by
using Ocean optic USB4000 model spectrometer at
wavelength range of 500nm-900nm wavelength range.
Electromagnet axis arranged to be perpendicular to optical
path and a polarized added to measure the MO linear
dichroism effect as shown in figure 2. The light was polarized
parallel (P=0) and perpendicular (P=90) to the applied
magnetic field. The transmission spectrum from ferrofluid was
recorded for these polarization states of light.
Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of magneto-optical transmission measurement set
up when the applied magnetic field parallel to the optical path
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The average particle diameter measured as 68 nm by using
DLS. Saturation magnetization of the obtained dry
nanoparticles was measured around 61 emu/gr. The weight of
magnetic particle ratio in the magnetic liquid was determined
as around 0.7% from VSM measurements.
02MAN10-2
Fig. 2. Schematic diagram of magneto-optical linear dichroism measurement
set up while applied magnetic field perpendicular to optical path
A. Magneto-optical measurements: magnetic field parallel to
optical path
The wavelength-dependent variation of the light
transmission in ferrofluid was investigated for different
magnetic field values when the magnetic field was parallel to
optic path as shown in Fig. 3. It is seen that the light
transmission changes depend on the applied magnetic field.
MO effects are result from the physical and magnetic
properties of nanoparticles in the suspension, and these
nanoparticles have interactions under magnetic field.
Nanoparticles can be formed as chain, ring and/or gathered
around the larger particles due to these interactions between
each other when the magnetic field was applied to ferrofluid.
These formations of nanoparticles influence the quantity of
transmitted light. The light intensity decreased with the
increasing of magnetic field until 10 Oe. This situation may be
explained as the forming of nanoparticles’ aggregation in the
light way. But it is observed that the light intensity increased
with the decreasing of magnetic field over the 20 Oe magnetic
field values. It can be said that the particles were structured so
as to pass the light. Maximum Transmission change of %110
was obtained by when the applied magnetic field parallel to
the optical path at 200 Oe.
B. Magneto-optical Measurements: Magnetic Field
Perpendicular to Optical Path and Investigation of Linear
Dichroism Effect
While the applied magnetic field was perpendicular to the
optical path, the change of light transmission with wavelength
for ferrofluid for different magnetic field values was
examined. Figure 4 shows the transmission of light for
polarized light parallel to the applied magnetic field (P = 0)
and perpendicular to the applied magnetic field (P = 90).
If the direction of polarization of the light is perpendicular
to the applied magnetic field (P = 90), as shown in the Fig. 4,
with the increasing magnetic field strength, the number of
particles blocking the passage of light decreases, and the
amount of transmitted light increases. If the direction of
polarization is parallel to the applied magnetic field (P = 0),
then in that case with the increasing magnetic field strength,
the chain structure forms in the same direction with
 NAP-2017, 2017 IEEE 7th International Conference on Nanomaterials: Applications and Properties (NAP)
110 optic linear dichroism effect is seen clearly from Figure 4.
B=0 Oe Polarization dependent maximum transmission difference was
B=2 Oe measured as 40% for polarization parallel to the applied field
105 B=4 Oe and 20% for polarization parallel to the applied field.
B=10 Oe
% Transmission

Both, the transmission of light, examined when the

100
magnetic field is parallel to the optical path, and linear
dichroism effect, examined when the magnetic field is
perpendicular to the optical path, were investigated for 600-
900nm. The transmission change with magnetic field at 650
95
nm wavelength is given in Figure 5.
Briefly light passes through the magnetic fluid with less
90 interaction and absorption, when the polarization direction is
600 700 800 900
perpendicular to the magnetic field. On the other hand, when
Wavelenght (nm) the polarization direction parallel to the applied magnetic
120
B=0 Oe
field, light absorption increases as electric dipole of aligned
115
B=10 Oe nano-particles and electromagnetic field interacts.
B=20 Oe
B=40 Oe For a ferrofluid, when the magnetic field is perpendicular
110
B=100 Oe to the optical path, as the magnetic field increases, magneto
% Transmission

B=200 Oe optic linear dichroism effect also increases. The linear

105
dichroism effect can be seen from Fig.5. The linear dichroism
100 effect should observed when the chain like structures formed
by magnetic nano-particles. Also the transmission should
95
increase as another effect. So, both the increase of
90
transmission and linear dichroism effect implies the
occurrence of chain structure.
85
600 700 800 900

Wavelenght (nm)

Fig. 3. The wavelength-dependent variation of the light transmission for

different magnetic field values when the magnetic field was parallel to optic
path

130

120 P=90

110
% Transmission

100

90

80 B=0 Oe
Fig. 5. The variation of the light transmission of the ferrofluid when the
B=10 Oe
70 B=20 Oe
magnetic field is parallel to the optical path, and the transmission of light for P
P=0 = 0, P = 90, polarization while magnetic field is perpendicular to the optical
B=40 Oe
60 B=100 Oe path at 650 nm wavelength.
B=200 Oe
50
600 700 800 900
IV. CONCLUSION
Wavelenght(nm)
In this study, MNPs were synthesized using the
Fig. 4. The wavelength-dependent variation of the light transmission of coprecipitation method and the appropriate experimental set
ferrofluid for parallel and perpendicular light polarizations anddifferent up was designed in order to investigate the MO transmission
magnetic field values which are perpendicular to the optical path.
and linear dichroism effects. When the magnetic field was
polarization, so the particles prevents the transmission of the parallel to the optical path, it is observed that the light
light and the amount of transmitted light decreases. As a transmission changed due to the magnetic field and the
result, it is observed that amount of the transmitted light was maximum transmission difference was found as %10. When
increased in the P90 case. the magnetic field is perpendicular to the optical path, as the
magnetic field increases, magneto optic linear dichroism effect
The difference between the amounts of transmitted light also increases. Both these effects are possible results of chain
due to polarization is called linear dichroism. So the magneto-
like structures of nanoparticles in magnetic liquid. Polarization

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 NAP-2017, 2017 IEEE 7th International Conference on Nanomaterials: Applications and Properties (NAP)
dependent maximum transmission difference was measured as [4]
40% for polarization parallel to the applied field and 20% for [5]
polarization parallel to the applied field.
[6]
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