The magnetic proximity effect in a ferrimagnetic Fe₃O₄ core/ferrimagnetic γ-Mn₂O₃ shell nanoparticle system

Abstract

We report the magnetic proximity effect in a ferrimagnetic Fe₃O₄ core/ferrimagnetic γ-Mn₂O₃ shell nanoparticle system, in terms of an enhancement of the Curie temperature (T_c) of the γ-Mn₂O₃ shell (∼66 K) compared to its bulk value (∼40 K), and the presence of magnetic ordering in its so-called paramagnetic region (i.e. above 66 K). The ferrimagnetic nature of both core and shell has been found from a neutron diffraction study. The origin of these two features of the magnetic proximity effect has been ascribed to the proximity of the γ-Mn₂O₃ shell with a high-T_c Fe₃O₄ core (∼858 K in bulk form) and an interface exchange coupling between core and shell. Interestingly, we did not observe any exchange bias effect, which has been interpreted as a signature of a weak interface exchange coupling between core and shell. The present study brings out the importance of the relative strength of the interface coupling in governing the simultaneous occurrence of the magnetic proximity effect and the exchange bias phenomenon in a single system.