The remanence ratio in CoFe2O4 nanoparticles with approximate single-domain sizes.

Approximately single-domain-sized 9-, 13-, and 16-nm CoFe2O4 nanoparticles are synthesized using the thermal decomposition of a metal-organic salt. By means of dilution and reduction, the concentration, moment, and anisotropy of nanoparticles are changed and their influence on the magnetic properties is investigated. The relation of M r/M s ∝ 1/lgH dip is observed, where M r/M s is the remanence ratio and H dip is the maximum dipolar field. Especially, such relation is more accurate for the nanoparticle systems with higher concentration and higher moment, i.e., larger H dip. The deviation from M r/M s ∝ 1/lgH dip appearing at low temperatures can be attributed to the effects of surface spins for the single-phase CoFe2O4 nanoparticles and to the pinning effect of CoFe2O4 on CoFe2 for the slightly reduced nanoparticles. Graphical Abstract Approximately single-domain-sized 9-, 13-, and 16-nm CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized and then the concentration, moment, and anisotropy of these NPs were changed. The correlation of M r/M s ∝ 1/lgH dip was observed, independent of the size, concentration, moment, and anisotropy, and especially, such correlation is more accurate for the nanoparticle systems with higher concentration or moment, i.e., stronger dipolar interaction, which has not been reported before as far as we know.

The effects of surface spin on magnetic properties of weak magnetic ZnLa0.02Fe1.98O4 nanoparticles.

In order to prominently investigate the effects of the surface spin on the magnetic properties, the weak magnetic ZnLa0.02Fe1.98O4 nanoparticles were chosen as studying objects which benefit to reduce as possibly the effects of interparticle dipolar interaction and crystalline anisotropy energies. By annealing the undiluted and diluted ZnLa0.02Fe1.98O4 nanoparticles at different temperatures, we observed the rich variations of magnetic ordering states (superparamagnetism, weak ferromagnetism, and paramagnetism). The magnetic properties can be well understood by considering the effects of the surface spin of the magnetic nanoparticles. Our results indicate that in the nano-sized magnets with weak magnetism, the surface spin plays a crucial rule in the magnetic properties.