Size-dependent properties of single domain Fe2CoGa nanoparticles prepared by a facile template-less chemical route

Abstract

Single phase X type Fe₂CoGa Heusler alloy nanoparticles with average crystallite sizes of 56 nm, 26 nm, and 21 nm have been synthesized using a refined template-less chemical route. Size-dependent structural and magnetic properties of the Fe₂CoGa alloy nanoparticles are compared with the bulk counterpart prepared by arc melting. Fe₂CoGa nanoparticles show soft ferromagnetic behavior with high magnetic moment and Curie temperature. Ab initio calculations have been carried out to interpret the experimental results. The estimated critical size and measured magnetic properties of the nanoparticles reveal that the synthesized nanoparticles are in a single domain superparamagnetic regime.