The Role of Aggregation of Ferrite Nanoparticles on Their Magnetic Properties

We have studied the magnetic properties of aggregates of Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Gd _x Fe_2−x O₄ ferrite nanoparticles, with x = 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.10, 0.11, 0.12, 0.13, 0.14, 0.15, 0.16, 0.18, 0.20. The scanning electron microscopy micrographs show significant aggregation of the nanoparticles in all samples. Zero field cooled and field cooled magnetization measurements were conducted on all samples from 400 K down to 5 K. Most zero field cooled curves were found to exhibit the usual behavior but with wide peaked regions. For some x values, the field cooled magnetization was found to increase slowly with decreasing temperature, and becomes nearly constant at low temperatures. The measurements of magnetization versus applied magnetic field were conducted on all samples at 5 K and 305 K in the field range from −15000 to 15000 Oe. At 305 K the magnetization for all samples was observed to saturate, while at 5 K the magnetization did not reach saturation for some values of x. The saturation magnetization values were suggested to be proportional to the size of particles. These results were discussed and suggested to be due to the inter-particle dipolar and exchange interactions between the particles in the aggregates, the large particle size distribution and the surface magnetization effects.