Synthesis of γ–Fe2O3 nanoparticles with crystallographic and magnetic texture

Abstract

Maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles are synthesized by chemical co-precipitation technique in AOT-microemulsion with a view to have possible application for biotagging. The investigations by means of X-ray diffraction, isothermal magnetization M (H) and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer Spectroscopy show that the particles are nonspherical, mostly of rod shape. The inter-particle interaction is so large that even a powder sample of thickness about 40 mg/cm² shows preferential orientation of magnetic moments in the plane of the sample. The saturation magnetization is much lower than the expected values for maghemite.

Keywords: Maghemite, Magnetic nanoparticles, Magnetic Ordering, Mössbauer spectroscopy

International Journal of Engineering, Science and Technology, Vol. 2, No. 8, 2010, pp. 33-39