Spectral study of oxide-shell in core-shell iron nanoclusters

Abstract

The structural and magnetic properties of oxide passivated magnetic nanoclusters (NCs) have gained popularity and applications in various fields like data storage, spin valves, and recently in nuclear waste treatment [1-4]. In the present work, we consider an iron/iron-oxide (Fe/Fe-oxide) core/shell NC, which consists of Fe-core surrounded by Fe-oxide shell. An oxide passivation/alteration of the surface Fe-core represents the effective medium for transmission of exchange interaction and conduction electrons between the ferromagnetic metallic cores. It can easily alter the magnetic behavior of cluster depending on the chemical and lattice structure of the oxide-shell. Oxidation behavior of Fe-core is highly dependent on factors such as temperature, oxygen partial pressure, and time, in other words, the type of synthesis process primarily influences the overall oxide shell thickness. Also, irradiation has considerable influence on the oxide-shell of core-shell NCs. [5]