Novel strategies for intermatrix synthesis of highly stable ferromagnetic nanoparticles

project coordinator
Prof. Marcin Leonowicz, Ph.D., D.Sc.

partners
INTAS member states: Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland, prof. Marcin Leonowicz — project leader; Department of Engineering Materials, Sheffi eld University, United Kingdom, prof. Hywel A. Davies, dr Iain Todd; Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, dr D. Muraviev.

NIS countries:
Institute of Problems of Chemical Physics RAS, Russia, prof. A. Pomogailo; Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry, RAS, Moscow, Russia, prof. Sergey Gubin; Institute of Problems of Materials Science of NASU, Kiev, Ukraine, prof. S. Zaginaichenko; Institute of Chemistry, Moldova, Academy of Sciences, Moldova, dr C.I. Turta

Aim of project
Development of novel strategies for intermatrix synthesis of ferromagnetic / superparamagnetic nanoparticles immobilized in polymer, polymer-inorganic or carbon matrices and study of their structure and magnetic properties.

Expected results
The main aim of the project is development of novel strategies for intermatrix synthesis of ferromagnetic / superparamagnetic nanoparticles, immobilized in polymer, polymer- inorganic or carbon matrices, and study of their structures and magnetic properties. The nanoparticles will comprise ferromagnetic elements such as iron, cobalt and nickel, their oxides and carbides and alloys (Fe-Pt, Fe-Co, Co-CoO-Co, Co-Pd-Co, Co-TiO2-Co, Co-Pd, Fe-Pd, SmCo-Co and Nd-Fe-B-Fe3B). To achieve the goal, several novel processing techniques will be employed and studied. Some of these techniques have been developed by the authors. The methods to be investigated comprise: (i) processes of thermal polymerization and co-polymerization of metal-containing monomers in the solid phase, followed by controlled thermolysis of the products obtained. In this method, the ferromagnetic nanoparticles and stabilizing polymeric matrix are formed simultaneously in a single stage; (ii) fabrication of homogeneous nanoparticles and “core-shell” structures by thermal decomposition of metal-containing compounds in liquid (mineral oil or solutions of polymer in oil); (iii) polymer sol-gel synthesis which includes the formation of the polymer-inorganic matrix (TiO2 etc.) and in situ formation of magnetic nanofi llers during the matrix condensation stage; (iv) condensation from the metal and carbon vapours formed in an electric arc, followed by deposition of metal-graphite composites; (v) synthesis of complex ferritic oxides from oxo-polynuclearic metal carboxylates (including lanthanide atoms) as the model complexes in the formation of metal nanoparticles.