Temperature Dependence of the Magnetization of Disc Shaped NiO Nanoparticles

We present neutron diffraction data of NiO nanoparticles measuring the total magnetization and the sublattice magnetization at various temperatures. Electron microscopy shows that the particles are disc shaped with average diameter of about 12 nm and a thickness of about 2 nm. The Neel temperature ( 460 K) is less than for bulk NiO (523 K). The magnetic domain size, as estimated from the width of the neutron diffraction peaks corresponding to the antiferromagnetic reflection is smaller than the particle size estimated from the structural peaks. A ferromagnetic contribution is present as a temperature dependent contribution of a structural peak in contrast to bulk NiO. The two magnetic signals vanish at the same temperature. The data are interpreted on the basis of an extended mean field model on disc shaped NiO particles. This model includes the finite size dependence of the effective field experienced on the position of the atom. The experimental findings are in agreement with the theoretical model.