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Maria Elena Materia

Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova (Italy)

The objective of this short-term scientific mission was to obtain a more complete magnetic characterization of different magnetic nanoparticles developed in my group at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) of Genova. In particular objective of the study were cubic shaped iron oxide (Fe3O4) or cobalt ferrite (CoxFe3-xO4) nanoparticles, and gold iron oxide dimers (AuFe3O4) with a characteristic dumbbell-like structure. These magnetic materials presented outstanding heating ability under the effect of an alternating magnetic field (AMF) resulting very promising tools for hyperthermia applications. For this reason it is of great interest to understand in deep the relaxation processes which regulate the heating response of these magnetic nanoparticles and in particular how size, chemical composition and also solvent viscosity affect these mechanisms. The consolidate experience of Teran’s group in magnetic characterization and in particular in inductive magnetometry and calorimetric measurements allowed to monitor the hysteresis loops of these magnetic materials under different colloidal and AMF conditions and at the same time compare these data with their heating ability shedding light on the relaxation mechanisms involved. At the same time, this experience was also a great opportunity for me to extend my knowledge in the field of magnetism learning new magnetic characterization techniques.

Poster/Oral presentation(s) /Conference abstract(s) originating from this mission