Search Results (7)

This study presents the first successful integration of Fe₃O₄ and Li_0.5Cr_0.5Fe₂O₄ into a well-defined core/shell nanostructure through a two-step synthesis that combines co-precipitation and sol–gel auto-combustion methods. Unlike conventional composites, the core/shell design effectively suppresses the magnetic dead layer and promotes exchange coupling at the interface, leading to enhanced saturation magnetization, superior magnetic heating (specific absorption rate; SAR), and improved dielectric properties. Our research introduces a novel interfacial engineering strategy that simultaneously optimizes both magnetic and dielectric performance, offering a multifunctional platform for applications in magnetic hyperthermia, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and microwave devices. Full article

The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy of coated iron-core nanoparticles and single-layer centrifugation for separation of dead from live stallion spermatozoa. Our hypothesis was that nanoparticles would bind to dead sperm and allow for separation from live sperm using a magnet, resulting in a population of spermatozoa with a high percentage of total and progressive motility. Treatment Group 1 was an untreated control. Treatment Group 2 (nanoparticles, NP) utilized sperm incubated with nanoparticles followed by application of a magnet to remove dead sperm adhered to the coated nanoparticles. Treatment Group 3 (single-layer centrifugation, SLC) layered sperm above EquiPure™ followed by centrifugation. Semen samples were subsequently evaluated for sperm motility parameters, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome status, and morphology. The SLC technique yielded higher (p < 0.05) progressive motility (76 ± 9.2%) than the NP separation technique (59 ± 12.2%) or the untreated control (47.3 ± 5.1%). However, the total number of sperm recovered was higher (p < 0.05) in the NP technique (526.2 ± 96.6 × 10⁶) than the SLC procedure (211.7 ± 70 × 10⁶), yielding a higher total number of progressively motile sperm (317.6 ± 109 × 10⁶) recovered using the NP technique than the SLC technique (157.8 ± 43.6 × 10⁶). The percentage of live, acrosome intact sperm recovered was higher for SLC than NP. In summary, the SLC technique yielded a higher percentage of sperm motility, intact plasma membranes, and acrosome integrity, but yielded lower total sperm than with the nanoparticle separation technique. Full article

Based on our prior research, we synthesized iron-oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) in two shapes (spherical and cubic) and sized them for the current inquiry. This research examined the magnetic, rheological, and sedimentation properties of the suspensions containing PEG-coated IONPs, considering that both produced particles are intended to be employed for magnetic targeting applications. The saturation magnetization of both IONPs was lower than the magnetite domain magnetization of 92 emu/g due to the surfactant and the dead surface magnetic layer. Under each investigated magnetic field (0, 34 and 183 mT), the shear viscosity behaviour of the MNP suspensions of both kinds was comparable. Shear thinning behaviour was seen for both particle suspensions in the low shear rate area (0.1 s⁻¹ to 1 s⁻¹). The rheological curves from this paper show that the suspensions present a higher viscosity at lower shear rates for spherical and cubic PEG-coated nanoparticles when a magnetic field is applied. The aggregation behaviour demonstrates that cubic-shaped IONPs are more stable throughout time, with hydrodynamic diameter measurements showing a relatively slow variation of the DLS size distribution from 250 nm to 210 nm in the first 600 s; contrarily, the hydrodynamic diameter of spherical IONPs fluctuated significantly, from 855 nm to 460 nm. Another key finding relates to the sedimentation profile, specifically that PEG-coated IONPs with spherical shapes have a stronger tendency to sediment than those with cubic forms, which are more stable. Full article

Spin-pumping-induced damping and interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (iDMI) have been studied in Pt/Co₂FeAl/MgO systems grown on Si or MgO substrates as a function of Pt and Co₂FeAl (CFA) thicknesses. For this, we combined vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), microstrip ferromagnetic resonance (MS-FMR), and Brillouin light scattering (BLS). VSM measurements of the magnetic moment at saturation per unit area revealed the absence of a magnetic dead layer in both systems, with a higher magnetization at saturation obtained for CFA grown on MgO. The key parameters governing the spin-dependent transport through the Pt/CFA interface, including the spin mixing conductance and the spin diffusion length, have been determined from the CFA and the Pt thickness dependence of the damping. BLS has been used to measure the spin wave non-reciprocity via the frequency mismatch between the Stokes and anti-Stokes lines. iDMI has been separated from the contribution of the interface perpendicular anisotropy difference between Pt/CFA and CFA/MgO. Our investigation revealed that both iDMI strength and spin pumping efficiency are higher for CFA-based systems grown on MgO due to its epitaxial growth confirmed by MS-FMR measurements of the in-plane magnetic anisotropy. This suggests that CFA grown on MgO could be a promising material candidate as a spin injection source via spin pumping and for other spintronic applications. Full article

Thin-film strontium ferromolybdate is a promising material for applications in room-temperature magnetic tunnel junction devices. These are spin-based, low-power-consuming alternatives to CMOS in non-volatile memories, comparators, analog-to-digital converters, and magnetic sensors. In this work, we consider the main tasks to be solved when creating such devices based on strontium ferromolybdate: (i) selecting an appropriate tunnel barrier material, (ii) determining the role of the interface roughness and its quantification, (iii) determining the influence of the interface dead layer, (iv) establishing appropriate models of the tunnel magnetoresistance, and (v) promoting the low-field magnetoresistance in (111)-oriented thin films. We demonstrate that (i) barrier materials with a lower effective electronegativity than strontium ferromolybdate are beneficial, (ii) diminution of the magnetic offset field (the latter caused by magnetic coupling) requires a wavy surface rather than solely a surface with small roughness, (iii) the interface dead-layer thickness is of the order of 10 nm, (iv) the tunnel magnetoresistance deteriorates due to spin-independent tunneling and magnetically disordered interface layers, and (v) antiphase boundaries along the growth direction promote the negative low-field magnetoresistance by reducing charge carrier scattering in the absence of the field. Full article

The aim of the research presented in this article was to present the possibilities of wastewater treatment coming from the confectionery plant using pressure membrane techniques. Nanofiltration was carried out in a pressure dead-end filtration set up (Osmonics type GH-100-400) with a cell capacity of 350 cm³ equipped with a magnetic stirrer. Four flat nanofiltration membranes were used during the tests. The efficiency of the process was estimated by determining the purified wastewater volumetric stream and based on the removal degree of pollution load. The nanofiltration membrane, thanks to which the highest cleaning results were obtained, is a flat composite membrane, with the symbol NF-270, with the polyamide film layer of the Dow Filmtec company. The degree of removal of COD after nanofiltration in this membrane was 98.7%. It was found, that wastewater treated by pressure membrane techniques in the confectionery industry can be reused, for example, for irrigation of agricultural land or gardens, and for machines and equipment washing (closing water circuits). The use of NF processes enables wastewater treatment to such a degree that it can be drained to a natural receiver. Full article

The effect of an ultrathin TiO₂ capping layer on an anatase Ti_0.95Co_0.05O_2−δ (001) epitaxial thin film on magnetism at 300 K was investigated. Films with a capping layer showed increased magnetization mainly caused by enhanced out-of-plane magnetization. In addition, the ultrathin capping layer was useful in prolonging the magnetization lifetime by more than two years. The thickness dependence of the magnetic domain structure at room temperature indicated the preservation of magnetic domain structure even for a 13 nm thick film covered with a capping layer. Taking into account nearly unchanged electric conductivity irrespective of the capping layer’s thickness, the main role of the capping layer is to prevent surface oxidation, which reduces electron carriers on the surface. Full article