Robust Ferromagnetism of Chromium Nanoparticles Formed in Superfluid Helium.

Yang, Shengfu; Feng, Cheng; Spence, Daniel; Al Hindawi, Aula M A A; Latimer, Elspeth; Ellis, Andrew M; Binns, Chris; Peddis, Davide et al. · Adv Mater · 2017

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Chromium nanoparticles are formed using superfluid helium droplets as the nanoreactors, which are strongly ferromagnetic. The transition from antiferromagentism to ferromagnetism is attributed to atomic-scale disorder in chromium nanoparticles, leading to abundant unbalanced surface spins. Theoretical modeling confirms a frustrated aggregation process in superfluid helium due to the antiferromagnetic nature of chromium.