Ferromagnetism in α-Mn nanorods

Abstract

The present investigation reports the first experimental evidence of ferromagnetism in the cryomilled pure α-Mn nano-rods. Cryomilling of Mn powder at liquid nitrogen temperature leads to the formation of long nanorods of α-Mn. The detailed electron microscopy reveals that the nanorods grow along [11⎯⎯2] directions with surfaces bounded by {110} planes of FCC α-Mn. The magnetic measurements indicate ferromagnetic hysteresis loops, suggesting typical ferromagnetic order. The ab-initio density functional theory calculations indicate that the ferromagnetic response originates from the under coordinated surface atoms.