Structural and magnetic study of zinc-doped magnetite nanoparticles and ferrofluids for hyperthermia applications

Cubic-like shaped ZnxFe3−xO4 particles with crystallite mean sizes D between 15 and 117 nm were obtained by co-precipitation. Particle size effects and preferential occupation of spinel tetrahedral site by Zn2+ ions led to noticeable changes of physical properties. D ≥ 30 nm particles displayed near...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Mendoza Zélis, Pedro, Pasquevich, Gustavo Alberto, Stewart, Silvana Jacqueline, Fernandez Van Raap, Marcela Beatriz, Aphesteguy, Juan Carlos, Bruvera, Ignacio Javier, Laborde, C., Pianciola, Betiana Noelia, Jacobo, Silvia Elena, Sánchez, Francisco Homero
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2013
Country:Argentina
Institution:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repository:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/22099
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/22099
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Nanoparticles
Zn-Ferrites
Hyperthermia
Ferrofluids
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.3
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2.10
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2
Description
Summary:Cubic-like shaped ZnxFe3−xO4 particles with crystallite mean sizes D between 15 and 117 nm were obtained by co-precipitation. Particle size effects and preferential occupation of spinel tetrahedral site by Zn2+ ions led to noticeable changes of physical properties. D ≥ 30 nm particles displayed nearly bulk properties, which were dominated by Zn concentration. For D ≤ 30 nm, dominant magnetic relaxation effects were observed by Mössbauer spectroscopy, with the mean blocking size DB ~ 13 to 15 nm. Saturation magnetization increased with x up to x ~ 0.1–0.3 and decreased for larger x. Power absorbed by water and chitosan-based ferrofluids from a 260 kHz radio frequency field was measured as a function of x, field amplitude H0 and ferrofluid concentration. For H0 = 41 kA m−1 the maximum specific absorption rate was 367 W g−1 for D = 16 nm and x = 0.1. Absorption results are interpreted within the framework of the linear response theory for H0 ≤ 41 kA m−1. A departure towards a saturation regime was observed for higher fields. Simulations based on a two-level description of nanoparticle magnetic moment relaxation qualitatively agree with these observations. The frequency factor of the susceptibility dissipative component, derived from experimental results, showed a sharp maximum at D ~ 16 nm. This behaviour was satisfactorily described by simulations based on moment relaxation processes, which furthermore indicated a crossover from Néel to Brown mechanisms at D ~ 18 nm. Hints for further improvement of magnetite particles as nanocalefactors for magnetic hyperthermia are discussed.