Size dependence of ordering in FePt nanoparticles

Abstract

We have investigated the size effect of A1→L10 ordering of FePt nanoparticles in FePt–Al2O3 granular and FePt/SiO2 particulate films by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM results have shown convincingly that ordering does not progress when the particle size has a diameter of less than 4 nm. Calculation of the order parameter profile from the surface to the volume of the FePt nanoparticles based on diffuse-interface theory justified the experimentally observed size dependence of the ordering. The transition length from disorder to order depends on the interfacial energy, hence the critical particle size of ordering should vary depending on the type of matrix and substrate.