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Structure and composition of Au/Co magneto-plasmonic nanoparticles

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Abstract

The fabrication of bimetallic magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) smaller than the size of single magnetic domain is very challenging because of the agglomeration, non-uniform size, and possible complex chemistry at nanoscale. In this paper, we present an alloyed ferromagnetic 4 ± 1 nm thiolated Au/Co magnetic NPs with decahedral and icosahedral shape. The NPs were characterized by Cs-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and weretheoretically studied by Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations. Comparison of Z-contrast imaging and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy used jointly with STEM simulated images from theoretical models uniquely showed an inhomogeneous alloying with minor segregation. The magnetic measurements obtained from superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer exhibited ferromagnetic behavior. This magnetic nanoalloy in the range of single domain is fully magnetized and carries significance as a promising candidate for magnetic data recording, permanent magnetization, and biomedical applications.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by grants from the National Center for Research Resources (5 G12RR013646-12) and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (G12MD007591) from the National Institutes of Health. The authors would like to acknowledge the NSF for support with grants DMR-1103730, “Alloys at the Nanoscale: The Case of Nanoparticles Second Phase and PREM: NSF PREM Grant # DMR 0934218; “Oxide and Metal Nanoparticles- The Interface Between Life Sciences and Physical Sciences”.NB acknowledges G. Ajithkumar for discussion about magnetic behavior. Support from the Mexican Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT, Mexico), through project CIAM 148967, is also acknowledged. MMM wish to thank CONICET, SeCyT UNC, ANPCyT Program BID (PICT 2010-123), and PIP: 112-200801-000983 “Nanotechnology in-silico” for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA

    Nabraj Bhattarai, Gilberto Casillas, Subarna Khanal, Daniel Bahena & J. Jesus Velazquez-Salazar

  2. Center for Innovation and Research in Engineering and Technology, and CICFIM-Facultad de Ciencias Fisico-Matematicas, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, San Nicolas de los Garza, NL, 66450, Mexico

    Sergio Mejia

  3. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA

    Arturo Ponce

  4. Department of Material Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive Evanston, IL, 60208, USA

    Vinayak P. Dravid

  5. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA

    Robert L. Whetten

  6. INFIQC/CONICET, Departamento de Matemática y Física, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, XUA5000, Córdoba, Argentina

    Marcelo M. Mariscal

  7. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA

    Miguel Jose-Yacaman

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  1. Nabraj Bhattarai
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  2. Gilberto Casillas
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  10. Marcelo M. Mariscal
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Miguel Jose-Yacaman.

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For supplementary material for this article, please visit {rs|http://dx.doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2013.30|url|}

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Bhattarai, N., Casillas, G., Khanal, S. et al. Structure and composition of Au/Co magneto-plasmonic nanoparticles. MRS Communications 3, 177–183 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2013.30

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