Easy axis alignment of chemically partially ordered FePt nanoparticles

Partially ordered Fe53Pt47 nanoparticles with size around 8 nm were prepared by the simultaneous decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl and platinum acetylacetonate. The high boiling point chemical, hexadecylarrtine, was used as a solvent, and I-adamantanecarboxylic acid was used as a stabilizer. X-ray diffraction measurements reveal that as-made FePt particles were partially transformed,into the ordered L1(0) phase with some weak superlattice peaks. The room-temperature hysteresis loop and remanence curve suggest a broad distribution of anisotropies in the partially ordered particles. By coating the partially ordered FePt nanoparticles with a polyvinylchloride polymer binder, the particles could be re-dispersed in cyclohexanone. Furthermore, the easy axis of the particles coated with the polyvinylchloride polymer binder could be aligned under an external field. Easy axis alignment was confirmed from both alternating gradient magnetometer and x-ray diffraction measurements. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.