Chemical synthesis of narrowly dispersed SmCo5 nanoparticles

In this article we report a chemical synthetic means for generating a high K-u magnetic material-narrowly dispersed nanoparticles of SmCo5. Using Co-2(CO)(8) and Sm(acac)(3) as the precursors under air-free conditions, we produced SmCo5 nanoparticles according to the procedure reported by Sun [Science 287, 1981 (2000)] but with some modifications. The nanoparticles, with diameters of 6-8 nm, have a SmCo5 composition, as indicated by transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The magnetization measurement of the nanoparticles, exhibits superparamagnetism, which is blocked for temperatures below similar to110 K, suggesting K-u to be similar to2.1x10(6) erg/cm(3) for the as-prepared particles. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.