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R&D service catalogue

Magnetometry - R&D service catalogue

The European magnetometry network shares world-class expertise and tools in magnetic measurement (magnetometry) to support R&D and innovation in Europe.

Magnetometry is a powerful, versatile and non-destructive way to characterize a wide range of raw and functionalised materials, as well as industrial processes. The later may or may not be directly related to the field of magnetism since all materials have specific magnetic signatures which can be traced or used to characterize its environment.

We look forward to hearing from you. If you have any queries or would like to request service or partner with us, feel free to contact us. After defining the problematics and potential solutions, we will select the closest and/or the most relevant magnetometry center(s) to perform the proposed measurements or R&D program.

The network can provide a wide range of services:

Services

  • Measurement service
  • R&D collaboration
  • Lifelong training
  • Consultancy
  • Metrology development

Materials we can handle

Powders and Nanoparticles

Enlarge the picture Hysteresis loops of core-shell magnetic nanoparticles (left; red: Ni cores; green: Ni@NiO core-shell, black: Ni@CoO core-shell nanoparticles). The stabilizing exchange coupling at the FM-AFM interface is clearly visible as loop shift (exchange bias). False-color SEM image of a thin film of core-shell nanoparticles and a pictorial sketch of a single nanoparticle (courtesy of prof. S. D’Addato, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia).VARIOUS USES OF MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES

The search for new magnetic materials has pushed the fabrication and study of magnetic nanostructures, in particular nanoparticles, with controllable and improved magnetic properties that will allow the development of novel and promising technologies. Magnetic nanoparticles can be applied in different fields as data storage, permanent magnets, optics, catalysis and advanced thermoelectrics. Advanced synthesis methods are now available to produce magnetic nanoparticles with controlled size, size distribution, shape, and (hetero)structure.

At CNR-ISTM in Milano, the goal of room temperature magnetic stability of nanoparticles is pursued, often in collaboration with other groups. Stabilization strategies are based on shape, composition, and exchange coupling (e.g. FM-AFM core-shell structure). Of course, magnetometry has a central role in the performance evaluation and understanding of structure-property relationships since it provides information about the magnetic behavior as a function of field, temperature, and time. More complex experiments and advanced data analysis techniques provide deeper insight into the magnetic materials.

In the CNR laboratory of Rome, a new ferrofluid for thermoelectric applications is being developed within the consortium MAGENTA (FET-proactive H2020). In the CNR laboratory of Parma, the magnetic properties of nanoparticles to develop permanent magnets are investigated in the framework of the EU-H2020 Amphibian project.

Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) image of functionalized iron oxides nano-particles for disease detection and treatment.CHARACTERIZATION OF MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES

The magnetometry plateform at Unviversité de Lorraine hosts 7 magnetometers very well suited to characterize magnetic features of powders. Current collaborations include academics and companies, in the field of metallurgy (metal powder), physics (superconducting powder), health sciences (functionalized nanoparticles for disease detection and treatment), geology (functionalized nanoparticles for pollution detection).

Enlarge the picture Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) image of particles.MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES FOR CANCER CELL TARGETING

At SPINTEC, engineered magnetic micro/nanoparticles or devices are prepared by top-down approaches and specially designed for biomedical applications. One of them use anisotropic magnetic nanoparticles, aiming at the targeted destruction of cancer cells, by triggering their apoptosis / necrosis thanks to the vibration of the particles attached to their membranes under low frequency (~20 Hz) magnetic fields. Optimization of the curing procedure and nanoparticles magnetic features relies on magnetometry measurements.

Fluids

Enlarge the picture Multifunctional magnetoplasmonics Au-Fe oxide nanoparticles joints photonics, magnetism, thermal and health applications.FLUID SUSPENSIONS OF MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES

Magnetic properties are strongly correlated to other properties of matter and hence the magnetic materials can show multifunctional properties. Multi-active materials can be designed by exploiting the interlink and coupling of different functionalities. IMEM-CNR-ASTER has wide competence in this type of materials; in particular, in magnetostrictive, multiferroics, magnetocalorics, magnetic shape memory, magneto-optics, magneto-plasmonics and theragnostics materials. They exhibit simultaneously the combination, linking, and correlation of the magnetic properties and the structural, morphological, electrical, thermal, and optical properties. Our team has competences in the preparation of these materials in different morphologies, bulk thin films, hybrid nanoparticles and nanocomposites. In addition, the team combines different competences in structural and morphological magnetic, optical and magneto-optical characterizations and their thermal and/or cooling variations. The team is now working in the framework of the industrial project Frimag (www.laboratoriomister.it/portfolio/frimag/) for the development of novel refrigerators based in the magneto-caloric effect.

At CNR-ISTM in Milano, the use of magnetic nanoparticles as quasi-homogeneous catalysts for the synthesis of organic fine chemical is actively developed. Magnetic nanoparticles catalyze the synthetic reaction, are easily separated from the reaction mixture by magnetic field gradients, and can be robustly recycled. Efficient and fast separation of the magnetic catalyst from the reaction mixture depends on the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles that are measured by magnetometry.