Magnetism of cluster-deposited Y–Co nanoparticles

Authors

Balamuruga Balamurugan, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Ralph Skomski, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Xingzhong Li, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
V. R. Shah, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
George C. Hadjipanayis, University of DelawareFollow
Jeffrey E. Shield, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
David J. Sellmyer, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2011

Citation

JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS 109, 07A707 (2011)

doi:10.1063/1.3549602

Comments

Copyright ©2011 American Institute of Physics

Abstract

Nanoparticles of YCo₂, YCo_3, and YCo₅ are produced by cluster-deposition and investigated both structurally and magnetically. The nanoparticles have sizes of less than 10 nm and are superparamagnetic at 300 K, irrespective of stoichiometry. As-produced nanoparticles exhibit disordered structures with magnetic properties differing from those of the bulk particles. The temperature-dependent magnetization curves of the nanoparticles reveal blocking temperatures from 110 to 250 K, depending on stoichiometry. The magnetic anisotropy constant K₁ of disordered YCo₅ nanoparticles of 7.8 nm in size is 3.5×10⁶ergs/cm³, higher than those of the disordered YCo₂ (8.9×10⁵ergs/cm³) and YCo₃ (1.0×10⁶ergs/cm³) nanoparticles.