Photoinduced magnetism in rubidium cobalt hexacyanoferrate Prussian blue analogue nanoparticles

Nanoparticles of rubidium cobalt hexacyanoferrate were synthesized using the organic ligand poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). The particles, with composition Rb1.8Co4[Fe(CN)(6)](3.2) center dot nH(2)O determined from CHN combustion analysis and ICP-MS, have an average size of 10 nm +/- 2 nm. Similar to bulk samples, the nanoparticles show evidence of ferrimagnetic ordering in DC magnetization below T-C similar to 15 K, although the transition is broadened due to the small particle size and its dispersion. Upon illumination with white light at 5 K, the field-cooled DC magnetization of these particles increased 40%. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.