Magnetic and Magnetoelectric Properties of Self-Assembled Fe_2.5Mn_0.5O₄ Nanocrystals

We report magnetoresistance of -40%, corresponding to 80% spin polarization, at magnetic field of 0.5 T and 200 K for oleic acid-coated Fe(2.5)Mn(0.5)O(4) nanocrystals (FMO NCs) self-assembled on a SiO(2)/Si substrate by drop casting fabrication. The FMO NCs exhibited spin glass transition around 150 K and nonlinear current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. Fowler-Nordheim plot of the I-V characteristics indicated that electrons tunnel directly barriers between the FMO NCs. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the FMO NCs are elongated hexagon in shape with size of ∼15 × 20 nm. The FMO NCs self-assembled in two-dimension hexagonal networks of collinear ferromagnetic moments. The [111] easy magnetization axis of each FMO NC was parallel to each other in the hexagonal arrays. Geometrically frustrated lattice of collinear ferromagnetic moments supports both a low and a high intergranular tunneling conductance for the self-assembled FMO NCs without and with magnetic fields, respectively.