Tuning structural and magnetic properties of Fe oxide nanoparticles by specific hydrogenation treatments

Structural and magnetic properties of Fe oxide nanoparticles prepared by laser pyrolysis and annealed in high pressure hydrogen atmosphere were investigated. The annealing treatments were performed at 200 °C (sample A200C) and 300 °C (sample A300C). The as prepared sample, A, consists of nanoparticles with ~ 4 nm mean particle size and contains C (~ 11 at.%), Fe and O. The Fe/O ratio is between γ-Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄ stoichiometric ratios. A change in the oxidation state, crystallinity and particle size is evidenced for the nanoparticles in sample A200C. The Fe oxide nanoparticles are completely reduced in sample A300C to α-Fe single phase. The blocking temperature increases from 106 K in A to 110 K in A200C and above room temperature in A300C, where strong inter-particle interactions are evidenced. Magnetic parameters, of interest for applications, have been considerably varied by the specific hydrogenation treatments, in direct connection to the induced specific changes of particle size, crystallinity and phase composition. For the A and A200C samples, a field cooling dependent unidirectional anisotropy was observed especially at low temperatures, supporting the presence of nanoparticles with core-shell-like structures. Surprisingly high M_S values, almost 50% higher than for bulk metallic Fe, were evidenced in sample A300C.