Synthesis and magnetic studies of Ni/NiO core/shell nanoparticles

Abstract

Ni/NiO core/shell nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical reduction method followed by oxidation by two different methods; (a) in air and (b) in microwave oven. Structural studies showed that the thickness of NiO shell on Ni core is less in air oxidized sample than the microwave oxidized samples which were supported by the magnetic studies. The samples prepared by air oxidation showed positive exchange biasing where as the samples prepared by microwave oxidation showed negative exchange biasing. Our study also showed that the thickness of the antiferromagnetic NiO is responsible for the different types of magnetic interactions at the interfaces between antiferromagnetic NiO and ferromagnetic Ni in Ni/NiO core/shell nanoparticles.