Synthesis of FePt nanoparticles for high density recording media

• Main Author: Lee, Jerry Aik Chong.
• Other Authors: School of Materials Science and Engineering
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/38748
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In an era of increasing data storage densities, FePt nanoparticles are ideal candidates due to their high anisotropy (K) values and their desirable magnetic properties in the L10 phase. However, the transformation of FePt nanoparticles to the L10 phase by annealing poses problems such as the loss of particle positional order and particle coalescence. In this report, solvothermal synthesis is used to produce the FePt nanoparticles and their compositions are controlled by various precursor ratios. Their properties before and after annealing at temperatures of 500°C, 550°C and 600°C are then characterized and analyzed using Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) measurements and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). From the results, the composition of the FePt nanoparticles produced with respect to the precursor ratios can be analyzed. It is observed that the phase transformation is more complete in samples where Fe/Pt ratio is close to 50:50 and that higher annealing temperatures produce a more complete phase transformation in the FePt nanoparticles. The data and results obtained provide a fundamental background to aid future research regarding the synthesis of FePt nanoparticles for high density recording media.