Superexchange coupling on oleylsarcosine-coated magnetite nanoparticles

Room temperature ferromagnetic resonance was used to investigate particle-particle interaction in magnetic fluid samples containing magnetite nanoparticles surface coated with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) or oleylsarcosine (OLEL). The DMSA sample showed a decrease of the magnetic resonance field (MRF) increasing the nanoparticle concentration (phi), whereas the OLEL sample showed the opposite behavior. The DMSA MRF concentration dependence was explained using a dipolar interaction model beyond the point dipole approximation. In addition, the magnetic resonance spectra of the OLEL sample showed an optical mode suggesting an antiferromagnetic superexchange coupling between magnetic nanoparticles forming dimers. (C) 2006 American Institute of Physics.