Cluster synthesis and direct ordering of rare-earth transition-metal nanomagnets

Nano Lett. 2011 Apr 13;11(4):1747-52. doi: 10.1021/nl200311w. Epub 2011 Feb 25.

Abstract

Rare-earth transition-metal (R-TM) alloys show superior permanent magnetic properties in the bulk, but the synthesis and application of R-TM nanoparticles remains a challenge due to the requirement of high-temperature annealing above about 800 °C for alloy formation and subsequent crystalline ordering. Here we report a single-step method to produce highly ordered R-TM nanoparticles such as YCo(5) and Y(2)Co(17), without high-temperature thermal annealing by employing a cluster-deposition system and investigate their structural and magnetic properties. The direct ordering is highly desirable to create and assemble R-TM nanoparticle building blocks for future permanent-magnet and other significant applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Magnetics / instrumentation*
  • Materials Testing
  • Metals, Rare Earth / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure*
  • Particle Size
  • Transition Elements / chemistry

Substances

  • Metals, Rare Earth
  • Transition Elements