Eutectic crystallized FePd nanoparticles for liquid metal magnet

Abstract

Magnetically hard nanoparticles have been widely explored in colloidal solution synthesis, while a high temperature-induced phase transformation is indispensable to achieve its high magnetocrystalline anisotropy. However, a long-standing challenge of magnetic nanoparticles is the inaccessibility of size-controlled growth without sintering-induced agglomeration. Here, we report a universal one-pot eutectic reaction scheme of magnetically hard FePd nanoparticles, in which the crystallization conditions are critical for its magnetic performance. We demonstrate that the stoichiometry between transition metal and eutectic salt and sintering temperature can play an important role in the magnetic coercivity of FePd nanoparticles. In addition, gallium liquid metal is employed as the conductivity filler for the formation of a magnetorheological fluid after mixing with metallic FePd nanoparticles. The liquid composite shows a high metallic and thermal conductivity as an unconventional cooling metallic ferrofluid conductor, and we further demonstrate its potential application in sensors, conductors and thermal interfaces.