Comparative study of core–shell iron/iron oxide gold covered magnetic nanoparticles obtained in different conditions

In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of the core–shell Fe covered with Au shells nanoparticles with mean diameters between 5 and 8 nm. The inverse micelles method was utilized to produce the samples. X-ray diffraction studies show that both core–shell systems have the expected crystalline structure. High resolution transmission electron microscopy and atomic emission spectroscopy techniques give additional information concerning the structure and composition of nanoparticles. An intermediate shell of amorphous oxidized iron was found between the magnetic Fe core and the external gold shell. The magnetic behavior of different core–shell samples shows no hysteresis loop indicating the superparamagnetic behavior of Fe-Au systems. The superparamagnetic behavior is also evidenced from FC and ZFC dependences of the magnetization versus temperature. By using the temperature dependence of the thermoremanent magnetization combined with magnetization versus applied magnetic field, the effective anisotropy constant was determined. The Fe/Au interface contribution to the effective anisotropy constant was calculated and discussed in relation with the combined shape and stress anisotropies.