Advanced magnetic materials and new characterization techniques

Abstract

Within this project the Magnetic Materials Laboratory (LMM) aims at producing state-of-the-art knowledge on a series of topics in applied magnetism. Specific objectives are: (1) To develop new magneto-optical techniques for the characterization of magnetic materials at microscopic and nanoscopic scales. (2) To investigate the structural, magnetic and transport properties of magnetite (Fe3O4) films obtained by chemical vapor deposition. (3) To investigate structural and magnetic properties of FePt and CoPt thin films showing perpendicular anisotropy. (4) To develop and operationalize a prototype microSQUID of (1 um)2 size by means of lithographic techniques. (5) To prepare and characterize MnO+(Fe, Co, or Ni) composites, in two geometries (bilayers, by sputtering, and nanopowders, by mechanosynthesis), aiming at increasing coercivity through exchange bias. (6) To make ferromagnetic nanowires with different geometric parameters and study their static and dynamic magnetic properties. (7) To investigate the influence of Zr and TiC addition on hard-magnetic properties of Sm-Co and Pr-Fe-B based permanent magnets. (8) To develop Fe-Pt alloy thin films with a negative thermal expansion coefficient, to be applied in read/write heads for hard disk memories. (9) To study the magnetic properties of MFe204 (M=Fe, Co, Ni. Cu) ferrite nanoparticles for ferrofluids; in particular, investigate the particle size effect on volume and surface anisotropies and on the cationic redistribution among transition-metal sites in the spinel structure. (10) To develop a purely physical method, based on sputtering deposition, to produce magnetic nanoparticles imbedded in a nonmagnetic matrix and vice-versa. (11) To investigate the magnetic properties of iron oxide (Fe304 and y¬Fe203) nanoparticles encapsulated in biocompatible materials for pharmacological and clinical applications. (12) To obtain bulk metallic glasses (BMG's) with high soft magnetic properties, by means of fast cooling alloys of special compositions. (AU)