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Versatile magnetometer assembly for characterizing magnetic properties of nanoparticles
J F D F Araujo1, A C Bruno1, S R W Louro1
1Department of Physics, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 22451-900, Brazil.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|November 2, 2015
Summary
We developed a versatile magnetometer for characterizing iron oxide nanoparticles from room temperature down to 6 K. This system achieved high sensitivity, enabling analysis of polymer-coated nanoparticles and their coating layer thickness.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Magnetometry
Background:
- Characterizing magnetic nanoparticles requires sensitive and versatile instrumentation.
- Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have diverse applications, necessitating precise property determination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct and validate a versatile magnetometer assembly for IONP characterization.
- To assess the impact of polymer coatings on IONP magnetic properties.
- To demonstrate the capability for estimating coating layer thickness.
Main Methods:
- Assembly of a tunable magnetometer with interchangeable sensors and electronics.
- Operation at variable temperatures (room temperature to 6 K).
- Testing with a commercial Hall sensor and multimeter; synthesis and characterization of Pluronic F-127 coated IONPs.
Main Results:
- Achieved a magnetic moment sensitivity of 8.5 × 10(-8) Am(2) with a non-cryogenic setup.
- Determined that Pluronic F-127 coating does not alter IONP magnetization at room temperature.
- Demonstrated feasibility of estimating coating layer thickness from magnetic field measurements.
Conclusions:
- The developed magnetometer assembly is a versatile tool for IONP characterization across a wide temperature range.
- Polymer coatings can be applied to IONPs without compromising their magnetic properties.
- The system provides a method for non-invasively probing nanoparticle coating characteristics.
