Evolution of the interface magnetism in bi-magnetic core/shell nanoparticles (Fe3O4/Mn3O4) with antiferromagnetic interface coupling

Bi-magnetic core/shell nanoparticles with an antiferromagnetic interface present very interesting properties. At high fields the antiferromagnetic coupling is overcome and the shell magnetization rotates so that the core and the shell align ferromagnetically. Simulations show that this induces an inhomogeneous magnetization at the interface. Here we propose to carry out a half-polarized SANS study of Fe3O4/Mn3O4 core/shell nanoparticles with antiferromagnetic interface coupling at different fields. (0-3 T) at 100 K and 10 K [TC(Mn3O4)=45 K]. The results will allow us to study the evolution of the spin arrangement of the core, shell and interface as the magnetization of the shell rotates for increasing fields. These results will allow us to understand the microscopic effects of the antiferromagnetic interface coupling in core/shell nanoparticles.