Oxide coating of Co-ferrofluids studied by polarised SANS

A new series of Cobalt ferrofluids with remarkable air stability have been prepared by subsequent smooth oxidation. We report on polarised small-angle neutron scattering (SANSPOL) investigations of the unknown nuclear and magnetic nanostructures. In order to evaluate the effect of the smooth oxidation step, beneficial for the air stability we compared the results with measurements on cobalt ferrofluids prepared similarly but without this step. SANSPOL combined with isotope contrast variation using deuterated solvents revealed a ferromagnetic core stabilized by a non-magnetic shell of organic surfactants. Only in the smoothly oxidised samples we found an additional non-magnetic layer on the surface of cobalt, the scattering length density of which corresponds closely to that of Co-oxides.