Synthesis and characterization of cobalt ferrites magnetic nanoparticles in alkanethiol solution

Magnetic nanoparticles of cobalt ferrite have been synthesized in a homogeneous solution containing dodecanethiol at room temperature. The alkanethiol molecules have provided a mean to control the particle size distribution. The uniformed size distribution, crystallinity and morphology of these nanoparticles are characterized with X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The stoichiometry of the cobalt ferrite is confirmed by both elemental analysis and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX). Fabrication of assembled arrays of these nanoparticles on Si(100) have been achieved by slow evaporation of the solution and studied by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Magnetic properties of the nanoparticles are determined by Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) and show a magnetization (Ms) of 75.3 emu/g and a coercivity (Hc) of 1500 Oe at room temperature.