Austenite–martensite transformation in electrodeposited Fe₇₀Pd₃₀ NWs: a step towards making bio-nano-actuators tested on in vivo systems

Fe_69±3Pd_31±3 nanowires (NWs) with lengths of a few microns and diameters of 200 nm were synthesized via template-assisted pulsed electrodeposition into alumina-based templates. The as-deposited Fe_69±3Pd_31±3 NWs exhibited α-Fe (bcc-solid solution of Fe, Pd) nanocrystalline structure as seen from the x-ray diffraction (XRD), that got confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with some larger grains up 50 nm observed. Annealing of the as-deposited Fe_69±3Pd_31±3 NWs at 1173 K/45 min was followed by quenching in ice water and resulted in a transformation to the fcc crystal structure (XRD) with grain sizes up to 200 nm (TEM). To induce the austenite-to-martensite, i.e., fcc-to-fct phase transformation the fcc Fe_69±3Pd_31±3 NWs were cooled to 73 K. The XRD showed the disappearance of the (200) fcc reflection (at room temperature) and the appearance of the (200) fct reflection (at 73 K), confirming the fcc-to-fct transformation took place. The magnetic measurements revealed that the fcc Fe_69±3Pd_31±3 NWs measured at low temperatures (50 K) had a larger coercivity than at room temperature, which suggests the fct phase was present in the undercooled state, exhibiting a larger magnetocrystalline anisotropy than the fcc phase present at room temperature. As part of our interest in magnetic-shape-memory actuators, the as-deposited Fe_69±3Pd_31±3 NWs were tested for toxicity on zebrafish. In vivo tests showed no acute lethal or sub-lethal effects, which implies that the Fe_69±3Pd_31±3 NWs have the potential to be used as nano-actuators in biomedical applications. (paper)