Origin of the large dispersion of magnetic properties in nanostructured oxides: Fe sub(x)O/Fe sub(3)O sub(4) nanoparticles as a case study

The intimate relationship between stoichiometry and physicochemical properties in transition-metal oxides makes them appealing as tunable materials. These features become exacerbated when dealing with nanostructures. However, due to the complexity of nanoscale materials, establishing a distinct rela...

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Published inNanoscale Vol. 7; no. 7; pp. 3002 - 3015
Main Authors Estrader, Marta, Lopez-Ortega, Alberto, Golosovsky, Igor V, Estrade, Sonia, Roca, Alejandro G, Salazar-Alvarez, German, Lopez-Conesa, Lluis, Tobia, Dina, Winkler, Elin, Ardisson, Jose D, Macedo, Waldemar AA, Morphis, Andreas, Vasilakaki, Marianna, Trohidou, Kalliopi N, Gukasov, Arsen, Mirebeau, Isabelle, Makarova, O L, Zysler, Roberto D, Peiro, Francesca, Baro, Maria Dolors, Bergstrom, Lennart, Nogues, Josep
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 01.02.2015
Subjects
Antiferromagnetism
Dispersions
Magnetic properties
Nanoparticles
Nanostructure
Oxides
Shells
Stoichiometry
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Summary:The intimate relationship between stoichiometry and physicochemical properties in transition-metal oxides makes them appealing as tunable materials. These features become exacerbated when dealing with nanostructures. However, due to the complexity of nanoscale materials, establishing a distinct relationship between structure-morphology and functionalities is often complicated. In this regard, in the Fe sub(x)O/Fe sub(3)O sub(4) system a largely unexplained broad dispersion of magnetic properties has been observed. Here we show, thanks to a comprehensive multi-technique approach, a clear correlation between the magneto-structural properties in large (45 nm) and small (9 nm) Fe sub(x)O/Fe sub(3)O sub(4) core/shell nanoparticles that can explain the spread of magnetic behaviors. The results reveal that while the Fe sub(x)O core in the large nanoparticles is antiferromagnetic and has bulk-like stoichiometry and unit-cell parameters, the Fe sub(x)O core in the small particles is highly non-stoichiometric and strained, displaying no significant antiferromagnetism. These results highlight the importance of ample characterization to fully understand the properties of nanostructured metal oxides.
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ISSN:2040-3364
2040-3372
DOI:10.1039/c4nr06351a