Dipolar structures in magnetite ferrofluids studied with small-angle neutron scattering with and without applied magnetic field.
Field-induced structure formation in a ferrofluid with well-defined magnetite nanoparticles with a permanent magnetic dipole moment was studied with small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) as a function of the magnetic interactions. The interactions were tuned by adjusting the size of the well-defined, single-magnetic-domain magnetite (Fe3O4) particles and by applying an external magnetic field. For decreasing particle dipole moments, the data show a progressive distortion of the hexagonal symmetry, resulting from the formation of magnetic sheets. The SANS data show qualitative agreement with recent cryogenic transmission electron microscopy results obtained in 2D [Klokkenburg, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 185702 (2006)] on the same ferrofluids.
Van 't Hoff Laboratory for Physical and Colloid Chemistry, Debye Institute, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, The Netherlands. m.klokkenburg@chem.uu.nl
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M
Klokkenburg
B H
BH
Erné
A
A
Wiedenmann
A V
AV
Petukhov
A P
AP
Philipse