hide
Free keywords:
-
Abstract:
This work describes the preparation of ternary nanoparticles based on
the Heusler compound Co2FeGa. Nanoparticles with sizes of about 20 nm
were synthesized by reducing a methanol impregnated mixture of CoCl2
center dot 6H(2)O, Fe(NO3)(3) center dot 9H(2)O and Ga(NO3)(3) center
dot xH(2)O after loading on fumed silica. The dried samples were heated
under pure H-2 gas at 900 degrees C. The obtained nanoparticles-embedded
in silica-were investigated by means of x-ray diffraction (XRD),
transmission electron microscopy, temperature dependent magnetometry and
Mossbauer spectroscopy. All methods clearly revealed the Heusler-type
L2(1) structure of the nanoparticles. In particular, anomalous XRD data
demonstrate the correct composition in addition to the occurrence of the
L2(1) structure. The magnetic moment of the particles is about 5 mu(B)
at low temperature in good agreement with the value of bulk material.
This suggests that the half-metallic properties are conserved even in
particles on the 10 nm scale.
