Nanotube magnetism

FePt and Fe3O4 nanotubes are produced by hydrogen reduction in nanochannels of porous alumina templates and investigated by electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction analysis, and magnetic measurements. Loading the templates with a Fe chloride and Pt chloride mixture followed by hydrogen reduction at 560 degreesC leads to the formation of ferromagnetic FePt nanotubes in the alumina pores. Using a Fe nitrate solution, thermally decomposed at 250 degreesC and reduced in hydrogen for 2.5 h at the same temperature, yields Fe3O4 tubes. The length of the nanotubes is about 50 mum and their diameters range from about 150 to 220 nm, depending on the thickness of the template film and the pore diameter distribution. Reflecting the different magnetocrystalline anisotropies of the compounds, the coercivities range from 0.61 kOe for Fe3O4 to 20.9 kOe for FePt. The hysteresis is explained in terms of a tubular random-anisotropy model, which yields a diameter and anisotropy dependent transition from a curling-type mode (Fe3O4) to a localized mode (FePt). (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.