Structure and magnetic properties of pure and samarium doped magnetite nanoparticles.

In this paper, a study of pure and doped samarium magnetite nanoparticles synthesized using a microwave synthesis in aqueous solution was performed. The shape, size and structure of the pure and samarium doped magnetite nanoparticles were determined by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The magnetic properties of the nanoparticles were investigated using a vibrating sample magnetometer. It was found that the samarium doped magnetite nanoparticles were superparamagnetic with high saturation magnetization. The doping with a small amount of samarium allowed to reduce the size of nanoparticles, their size distribution, increase resistance to oxidation and improve their magnetic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]