Exchange bias in Fe@Cr core-shell nanoparticles.

Binns, Chris; Qureshi, Muhammad T; Peddis, Davide; Baker, Stephen H; Howes, Paul B; Boatwright, Adrian; Cavill, Stuart A; Dhesi, Sarnjeet S et al. · Nano Lett · 2013

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We have used X-ray magnetic circular dichroism and magnetometry to study isolated Fe@Cr core-shell nanoparticles with an Fe core diameter of 2.7 nm (850 atoms) and a Cr shell thickness varying between 1 and 2 monolayers. The addition of Cr shells significantly reduces the spin moment but does not change the orbital moment. At least two Cr atomic layers are required to stabilize a ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic interface and generate the associated exchange bias and increase in coercivity.