JIMMA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINERING

MAGNETISM AND MAGNETIC MATERIALS

BY SEFU TAY
 Chapter 5
Important properties in relation to Nano-magnetism
Nano-magnetism:- is the magnetism on the nanoscale.
It describes the science and technology underlying the magnetic behavior of
nanostructured (1–100 nm) systems.
is a nanoscopic scale system that presents spontaneous magnetic order
(magnetization) at zero applied magnetic field (remanence).
➢ Magnetic nanoparticles, generally made from magnetic elements or
compounds such as iron, cobalt, nickel, or their alloys, exhibited
exceptional magnetism at the nanoscale. Magnetic nanoparticles could be
controlled by applying external magnetic fields and exhibited
superparamagnetism.
➢ The two main features that dominate the magnetic properties of
nanoparticles and give them various special properties are:

➢ Finite-size effects (single-domain or multi-domain structures and quantum

confinement of the electrons);

➢Surface effects, which results from the symmetry breaking of the crystal
structure at the surface of the particle, oxidation, dangling bonds, existence
of surfactants, surface strain, or even different chemical and physical
structures of internal “core” and surface “shell” parts of the nanoparticle.
➢ As the size of the particle decreases, the ratio of the surface area to the
volume of the particle increases.
➢ For nanoparticles, this ratio becomes significantly large causing a large
portion of the atoms to reside on the surface compared to those in the core
of the particle.
➢ For example, for a particle of 1 μm in diameter, nearly 0.15% of its atoms
are on the surface, while for a particle of 6 nm in diameter nearly 20% of its
atoms are on the surface.
 Magnetic properties of nanoparticles
➢ Magnetic nanoparticles show remarkable new phenomena such as high
field irreversibility, high saturation field, superparamagnetism, extra
anisotropy contributions, or shifted loops after field cooling.
➢ Magnetic Properties of nanoparticles are used for drug delivery, therapeutic
treatment, contrast agents for MRI imaging, bioseparation, and in-vitro
diagnostics.
➢ These nanometer-sized particles are superparamagnetic, a property
resulting from their tiny size-only a few nanometers-a fraction of the width
of a human hair (nanoparticles are approximately 1/1,000 thinner than
human hair).
➢ Superparamagnetic nanoparticles are not magnetic when located in a zero
magnetic field, but they quickly become magnetized when an external
magnetic field is applied.
➢ When returned to a zero magnetic field they quickly revert to a non-
magnetized state.
➢ Superparamagnatism is one of the most important properties of
nanoparticles used for biomagnetic separation.
 How Are Magnetic Nanoparticles Synthesised?
➢ Magnetic nanoparticles can be synthesized using various methods, each
offering unique advantages and control over particle size, shape, and
composition.
➢ Some commonly used synthesis approaches for magnetic nanoparticles are
• Chemical Precipitation
• Thermal Decomposition
• Sol-Gel Method
• Co-Precipitation
Chemical Precipitation
➢ Chemical precipitation involves the controlled precipitation of metal salts
in the presence of reducing agents and surfactants.
➢ reduction process converts metal ions into nanoparticles.
➢ example, iron oxide nanoparticles can be synthesized by precipitating iron
salts in alkaline conditions.
➢ This technique allows for precise control over particle size and
composition.
Thermal Decomposition
➢ Thermal decomposition is a widely used method for synthesizing magnetic
nanoparticles.
➢ Metal-organic precursors are heated to high temperatures, causing them to
decompose and form magnetic nanoparticles through nucleation.
➢ By carefully controlling the reaction conditions, such as temperature and
reaction time, researchers can achieve the desired particle size and shape.
➢ This approach is particularly suitable for producing magnetic nanoparticles
like iron, cobalt, or nickel.
Sol-Gel Method
➢ The sol-gel method involves the hydrolysis and condensation of metal
alkoxides to form a colloidal suspension (sol), which is then aged, dried,
and calcined to obtain magnetic nanoparticles; making it suitable for
synthesizing magnetic oxide nanoparticles like iron oxide, cobalt oxide, and
manganese oxide.
Co-Precipitation
➢ Co-precipitation involves simultaneously precipitating two or more metal
salts to form mixed-metal nanoparticles.
➢ Method allows for incorporating different metal ions into the nanoparticle
structure, leading to the synthesis of composite magnetic nanoparticles with
tailored magnetic properties
 Important Properties in Relation to Nano-Magnetism
➢ Inter-particle Interactions: Nano-magnets in close proximity may exhibit
exchange interactions affecting their magnetic coupling and behavior.
➢ Dipolar Interactions: Magnetic nanoparticles can display dipolar
interactions that influence their collective magnetic properties in assemblies
or arrays.
➢ Domain Walls: Nano-magnets show unique domain structures and domain
wall behavior due to their reduced dimensions, affecting their magnetic
stability and switching dynamics.
➢ Superparamagnetism: At nanoscale, magnetic nanoparticles may exhibit
superparamagnetic behavior due to thermal fluctuations, impacting their
magnetic properties.
➢ Domain Nucleation: Nucleation of magnetic domains in nanoparticles can
impact their coercivity and remanence, crucial for magnetic memory
applications.
➢ Spin Transport: Nano-magnets are essential in spintronic devices for spin-
polarized transport, enabling efficient spin-charge conversion for
information processing.
➢ Memory Devices: Nano-magnetic elements are used in non-volatile
memory devices like MRAM, leveraging their magnetoresistive properties
for data storage.
➢Faraday Rotation: Magneto-optical effects in nano-magnets like Faraday
rotation allow for the manipulation of light polarization by magnetic fields,
enabling applications in magneto-optical sensors and devices.
➢ Plasmonic Resonance: Nano-magnetic structures can exhibit plasmonic
resonances, enhancing light-matter interactions and enabling advanced
magneto-optical technologies with tailored properties.
➢ Topological States: Magnetic nanostructures can exhibit topological
properties leading to anomalous Hall effects, enabling dissipationless charge
transport and potential for spintronic devices.
➢ Topological Insulators: Utilizing topological insulators in nano-magnetism
research offers insights into unique electronic states and exotic magnetic
behaviors at the nanoscale.
➢ Quantum Phenomena: Single-molecule magnets exhibit quantum effects at
the nanoscale, displaying slow relaxation of magnetization and potential for
quantum information processing.
➢ Shape Anisotropy: Nano-magnets may have shape-dependent anisotropy,
where their magnetic behavior is influenced by the shape and morphology
of the nanoparticles.
➢ Coercivity Control: Understanding and controlling coercivity in nano-
magnets are crucial for applications in data storage, sensors, and
spintronics.
➢ Finite Size Effects: Nano-sized magnets can show size-dependent magnetic
behaviors, such as modified coercivity and anisotropy, compared to bulk
materials
 Applications of Nano-Magnetic Materials
➢ Magnetic Field Sensors: Nano-magnetic materials are utilized in magnetic
field sensors for detecting and measuring magnetic fields with high
sensitivity and precision.
➢ Biosensors: Functionalized nano-magnetic particles play a role in
biosensors for biomolecule detection, medical diagnostics, and drug
delivery applications.
➢ Spin Transport Devices: Nano-magnetic elements are essential for
spintronic devices where spin-polarized currents are used for information
processing and storage.
➢ Spin Valves: Spin valve devices utilize nano-magnetic layers for
manipulating electron spins, enabling advancements in magnetic memory
and logic elements.
➢ High-Density Magnetic Recording: Nano-magnetic materials are crucial
for high-density data storage applications in hard disk drives and magnetic
tapes.
➢ Magnetic Memory Devices: Nanoscale magnets are used in non-volatile
memory devices like MRAM for efficient data retention and fast access
times.
➢ Drug Delivery: Nano-magnetic particles are employed in magnetic drug
delivery systems for targeted and controlled drug release in cancer therapy
and other medical treatments.
➢ Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Magnetic nanoparticles enhance
contrast in MRI scans, providing detailed imaging for medical diagnosis
and research.
➢ Catalysis: Nano-magnetic materials serve as catalysts for chemical
reactions, enhancing reaction rates and efficiency in industrial processes.
➢ Water Purification: Functionalized magnetic nanoparticles are used for
water purification, magnetic separation of pollutants, and environmental
remediation.
➢ Spintronic Devices: Nano-magnets enable the development of spintronic
devices for low-power and high-speed electronics, contributing to
advancements in computing and communication.
➢ Magneto-Optical Devices: Nano-magnetic structures play a role in
magneto-optical devices for light modulation, data storage, and sensing
applications.
➢ Flexible Magnetic Sensors: Nano-magnetic materials enable the
development of flexible and wearable sensors for health monitoring, motion
tracking, and human-machine interfaces.
➢ Next-Generation Displays: Magnetic nanoparticles are utilized in advanced
display technologies for improved color rendering, energy efficiency, and
information display.
➢ Microwave Absorbers: Nano-magnetic materials are used in microwave
absorbers for electromagnetic wave attenuation, stealth technology, and
radar absorption applications.
➢ Magnetic Resonance Communication: Nano-magnets facilitate magnetic
resonance communication for secure and efficient wireless data transfer in
IoT and wireless networks.