Probing composition and interfacial interaction in oxide passivated core-shell iron nanoparticles by combining x-ray absorption and magnetic circular dichroism

Abstract

We present x-ray absorption and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism studies of iron oxide passivated iron nanoparticles. The combination of measurements with different probing depths allows us to determine the oxide composition while the magnetic data reveal the magnetic interactions across the interface between the α-Fe core and the spin canted ferrimagnetic iron oxide shell. These studies shed light on the mechanisms that govern the magnetic properties of core-shell nanoparticles.