Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Growth and characterization of magnetite-maghemite thin films by the dip coating method

  • Published:
Hyperfine Interactions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We present the process of growth and characterization of magnetite-maghemite thin films obtained by the dip coating method. The thin films were deposited on glass substrates, using a ferrofluid of nanostructured magnetite-maghemite particles as precursor solution. During the growth of the films the following parameters were controlled: number of dips of the substrates, dip velocity of the substrates and drying times. The films were characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy, Scanning Elelectron Microscopy, four-point method for resistance measurement, Room Temperature Mössbauer Spectroscopy and Hall effect. Mössbauer measurements showed the presence of a sextet attributed to maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) and two doublets attributed to superparamagnetic magnetite (Fe3O4), indicating a distribution of oxidation states of the iron as well as a particle size distribution of the magnetic phases in the films. Atomic force microscopy measurements showed that the films cover quasi uniformly the substrates, existing in them some pores with sub-micron size. Scanning Electron Microscopy measurements showed a uniform structure in the films, with spherical particles with size around 10 nm. Voltage versus current measurements showed an ohmic response of the films for currents between 0 and 100 nA. On the other hand, Hall effect measurements showed a nonlinear response of the Hall voltage with the magnetic flux density applied perpendicular to the plane of the films, however the response is fairly linear for magnetic flux densities between 0.15 and 0.35 T approximately. The results suggest that the films are promising for application as magnetic flux density sensors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Yang, S.-Y., Horng, H.-E., Hong, C.-Y., Yang, H.-C.: Structures, optical properties and potentially electro-optical applications of magnetic fluid films. Tamkang J. Sci. Eng. 5(2), 85–93 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Silva, M.R., Martins, H., Nascimento, I., Baptista, J.M., Lobo Ribeiro, A., Santos, J.L., Jorge, P., Frazão, O.: Optical current sensors for high power systems: A review. Appl. Sci. 2, 602–628 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Feng, J.S.-Y., Pashleyz, R.D., Nicolet, M.-A.: Magnetoelectric properties of magnetite thin films. J. Phys. C: Solid State Phys. 8, 1010–1022 (1975)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Wang, H.Q., Hoffman, J., Hong, X., Henrich, V.E., Ahn, C.H.: Planar hall effect in epitaxial thin films of magnetite. J. Appl. Phys. 101, 09J507 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Fernández-Pacheco, A., Orna, J., De Teresa, J.M., Algarabel, P.A., Morellon, L., Pardo, J.A., Ibarra, M.R., Kampert, E., Zeitler, U.: High-field hall effect and magnetoresistance in Fe3O4 epitaxial thin films up to 30 Tesla. Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 262108 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Müller, G.M., Walowski, J., Djordjevic, M., Miao, G.-X., Gupta, A., Ramos, A.V., Gehrke, K., Moshnyaga, V., Samwer, K., Schmalhorst, J., Thomas, A., Hütten, A., Reiss, G., Moodera, S.J., Münzenberg, M.: Spin polarization in half-metals probed by femtosecond spin excitation. Nat. Mater. 2341, 56–61 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Zhang, C., Fan, C., Pan, L., Wang, F., Wu, P., Qiu, H., Gu, Y., Zhang, Y.: Magnetic and transport properties of magnetite thin films. J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 293(2), 737–745 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Mi, W.B., Shen, J.J., Jiang, E.Y., Bai, H.L.: Microstructure, magnetic and magneto-transport properties of polycrystalline Fe3O4 films. Acta Materialia 55, 1919–1926 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Furubayashi, T.: Magnetite films prepared by reactive evaporation. J. Magn. Magn. Mater. vols. 1 of 2272–276, no SUPPL. 1, 1–2 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hu, X., Xu, M., Cui, X., Zhang, S.: Room-temperature magnetoresistance effects of Ag-added Fe3O4 films with single-domain grains. Solid State Commun. 142 (10), 595–599 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Tang, N., Zhong, W., Jiang, H., Wu, X., Liu, W., Du, Y.: Nanostructured magnetite (Fe3O4) thin films prepared by sol-gel method. J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 282(0), 92–95 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Lin, C., Lee, C., Chiu, W.: Preparation and properties of poly (acrylic acid) oligomer stabilized superparamagnetic ferrofluid. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 291, 411–420 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Velásquez, A.A., Urquijo, J.P., Gutiérrez, Y.: Diseño y construcción de un reactor mecatrónico para el crecimiento de películas delgadas por la técnica de recubrimiento por inmersión. Ingeniería y Ciencia 10(20), 93–113 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Velásquez, A.A., Arroyave, M.: Implementation of a preamplifier-amplifier system for radiation detectors used in Mössbauer spectroscopy. Hyp. Interact 224, 65–72 (2014)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Van der Pauw, L.J.: A method of measuring specific resistivity and Hall effect of discs of arbitrary shapes. Philips Res. Reports: J. Theor. Exper. Res. Phys. Chem. Allied Fields 13(1), 1–9 (1958)

  16. Vandenberghe, R., De Grave, E., De Bakker, P.M.A.: On the methodology of the analysis of Mössbauer spectra. Hyp. Interact 83, 29–49 (1994)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Vandenberghe, R.E.: Mössbauer spectroscopy and applications in geology. In: International Training Centre for Post-Graduate Soil Scientists, p. 51. State University Gent, Belgium (1990)

  18. Murase, H., Fujita, K., Murai, S., Tanaka, K.: Epitaxial growth of room-temperature ferrimagnetic semiconductor thin films based on Fe3O4-Fe2TiO4 solid solution. Mater. Trans. 50(5), 1076–1080 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grupo de Electromagnetismo Aplicado, Universidad EAFIT, A.A. 3300, Medellín, Colombia

    A. A. Velásquez & A. Arnedo

Authors
  1. A. A. Velásquez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Arnedo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. A. Velásquez.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Proceedings of the 15th Latin American Conference on the Applications of the Mössbauer Effect (LACAME 2016), 13-18 November 2016, Panama City, Panama

Edited by Juan A. Jaén

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Velásquez, A.A., Arnedo, A. Growth and characterization of magnetite-maghemite thin films by the dip coating method. Hyperfine Interact 238, 46 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10751-017-1397-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10751-017-1397-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation