2024
15.10.24
[Paper]
nM2-Lab gave a contribution in discovery new magnetic exotic phenomena. The paper titled "Non-Exchange Bias Hysteresis Loop Shifts in Dense Composites of Soft-Hard Magnetic Nanoparticles: New Possibilities for Simple Reference Layers in Magnetic Devices" has been published in the prestigious journal Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials (I.F. 23.2) [DOI:10.1007/s42114-024-00972-w]
In this study, we focus on designing and investigating the properties of hybrid nanoparticle composites, composed of hard and soft magnetic materials. Through experimental findings and Monte Carlo simulations, we broaden the understanding of magnetic bias phenomena, revealing novel loop shift effects that do not involve exchange interface coupling, also referred to as "Non-Exchange Bias." By utilizing well-defined binary nanocomposites consisting of soft (γ-Fe₂O₃) and hard (Co-doped γ-Fe₂O₃) constituents, we present two newly discovered magnetic bias effects beyond the classic exchange-coupling at the interface: asymmetric reversal-induced bias and dipolar bias. The key findings include:
Asymmetric Reversal-Induced Bias: A small addition of soft particles to a hard particle assembly with asymmetric reversal characteristics (i.e., unequal squareness in the left and right branches of the magnetic hysteresis loop) produces a tunable loop shift. The extent of this shift depends on the degree of asymmetry and the coercivity of the hard particles. This effect can also be extended to binary systems where one component exhibits asymmetric reversal, including thin films.
Dipolar Bias: Dispersing hard, exchange-biased particles into a soft, unbiased particle assembly induces a "dipolar bias" in the soft particles, even in fully saturated loops, ruling out minor loop effects. This bias is governed by the amount and exchange bias strength of the hard particles.
These findings expand the scope of magnetic bias effects and provide a new framework for understanding and manipulating magnetic behavior in hybrid materials
01.10.24
[Paper]
A new paper titled “Effect of Zn-substitution on magnetic structure of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles”, was published (S. Jovanovic et al., J. Chem. Phys., 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0226884).
This study investigates Zn-substituted cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (ZnxCo1-xFe2O4, x = 0-0.55), revealing complex spin canting and cation redistribution effects. By integrating the Néel model with 57Fe Mössbauer spectrometry data, we fully reconstructed the magnetic structure, demonstrating how Zn substitution tunes magnetic properties. Our findings provide insights into the interplay between composition, structure, and magnetism in spinel ferrites, offering a pathway for tailoring magnetic materials for diverse applications
19.09.24
[Paper]
A new paper titled “Hydrophobic iron oxide nanoparticles: Controlled synthesis and phase transfer via flash nanoprecipitation”, was published by the nM2-Labl in collaboration with Prof. Sulalit Bandyopadhyay's group at NTNU (S. Bandyopadhyay et al., Journal of colloid and Interface Science, (2025) 873. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.09.134).
This article investigates iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) synthesized via thermal decomposition find diverse applications in biomedicine owing to precise control of their physico-chemical properties. However, use in such applications requires phase transfer from organic solvent to water, which remains a bottleneck. Through the thermal decomposition of iron oleate (FeOl), we systematically investigate the impact of synthesis conditions such as oleic acid (OA) amount, temperature increase rate, dwell time, and solvent on the size, magnetic saturation, and crystallinity of IONPs. Solvent choice significantly influences these properties, manipulating which, synthesis of monodisperse IONPs within a tunable size range (10-30 nm) and magnetic properties (75 to 42 Am2Kg-1) is obtained. To enable phase transfer of IONPs, we employ flash nanoprecipitation (FNP) for the first time as a method for scalable and precise size control, demonstrating its potential over conventional methods. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-coated IONPs with hydrodynamic diameter (Hd) in the range of 250 nm, high colloidal stability and high IONPs loadings up to 43% were obtained, such physicochemical properties being tuned exclusively by the size and hydrophobicity of starting IONPs. They showed no discernible cytotoxicity in human dermal fibroblasts, highlighting the applicability of FNP as a novel method for the functionalization of hydrophobic IONPs for biomedicine.
03.10.24
[Paper]
A new paper titled “Apple Tree Root-Derived Biochar/Iron Oxide Triphasic Nanocomposite for Wastewater Treatment and Microwave Absorption ”, was published by the nM2-Lab in collaboration the with the group led by Prof. Tapati Sarkar at Uppsala university (M.Mahmoodi et al., Advanced Sustainable Systems,2024. DOI: 10.1002/adsu.202400549).
In this article , two major sources of pollution: (1) Water pollution due to heavy metals, and (2) Electromagnetic wave (EMW) pollution, often regarded as the fourth category of pollution (after air, water, and soil pollution) are addressed. A unique bio-based triphasic nanocomposite (Fe3O4/α-Fe2O3/carbon) is synthesized and its superior properties are demonstrated to address both types of environmental pollution. The nanocomposite, derived from lightweight apple tree roots, was used for Pb (II) ion removal from aqueous solutions via adsorption and magnetic separation. The biomass-derived highly porous biochar decorated with iron-oxide showed adsorption efficiency of nearly 100% and corresponding capacity of 149 mg.g-1 under optimal conditions for initial Pb (II) concentration of 50 mg.L-1. Furthermore, a remarkable adsorption capacity of 731 mg.g-1 was achieved using lower amount of the adsorbent for a slightly lower efficiency (97%). In addition, the mesoporous composite showed excellent EMW absorption efficiency with effective absorption bandwidth of 7.8 GHz and reflection loss of -61.7 dB, arising from very good impedance matching, and high dielectric and magnetic losses. This work establishes the multifunctional properties of the synthesized composite, and addresses the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) (Clean water and sanitation) and SDG (Climate action, including pollution management).
03.10.24
[Paper]
A new paper titled “A new hybrid gadolinium nanoparticles-loaded polymeric material for neutron detection in rare event searches”, was published by the nM2-Lab in collaboration the WINMP Dark Matter group at UNIGE and INFN (F.Acerbi et al., Journal of Instrumentation, 2024. DOI: 10.1088/1748-0221/19/09/P09021).
Supported by “São Paulo’s Research Foundation (FAPESP) Grant 2021/11489-7; Ivone Albuquerque and Edivaldo M. Santos are partially supported by the Brazilian CNPq. B. Costa and R. Perez are supported by FAPESP and L. Kerr by CNPq .
In this article, the experiments aimed at direct searches for WIMP dark matter require highly effective reduction of backgrounds and control of any residual radioactive contaminate. In particular, neutrons interacting with atomic nuclei represent an important class of backgrounds due to the expected similarity of a WIMP-nucleon interaction, so that such experiments often feature a dedicated neutron detector surrounding the active target volume. In the context of the development of DarkSide-20k detector at INFN Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS), several R&D projects were conceived and developed for the creation of a new hybrid material rich in both hydrogen and gadolinium nuclei to be employed as an essential element of the neutron detector. Thanks to its very high cross-section for neutron capture, gadolinium is one of the most widely used elements in neutron detectors, while the hydrogen-rich material is instrumental in efficiently moderating the neutrons. In this paper results from one of the R&Ds are presented. In this effort the new hybrid material was obtained as a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix, loaded with gadolinium oxide in the form of nanoparticles. We describe its realization, including all phases of design, purification, construction, characterization, and determination of mechanical properties of the new material.
08.10.24
[nM2-Lab visits Un. Catania]
Collaboration between the University of Genoa and Catania: new research lines in development. Prof. Davide Peddis and Dr. Pierfrancesco Maltoni recently visited the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Catania, where they met with Professor Tuccitto to discuss the details of a new exciting collaboration . The collaboration will focus on exploring innovative approaches to Molecular Communication, a cutting-edge field where Prof. Tuccitto is a worldwide expert.
During the meeting, the teams explored new possibilities for scientific development between the two universities, with the aim of strengthening cooperation and opening new shared research lines in physical chemistry and advanced materials. During the visit Prof. Peddis give a talk for PhD school entitled Design of Advanced Magnetic Nano-architecture.
The collaboration between the University of Genoa and the University of Catania focuses on Molecular Communication, exploring the transfer of information at a molecular scale with applications in nanotechnology and biomedicine. The research will leverage Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), a surface-sensitive technique that provides high-resolution analysis of molecular structures through surface spectroscopy, imaging, and depth profiling. This partnership aims to develop new methodologies in physical chemistry and materials science.
27.09.24
[nM2-Lab visits Serbia]
Davide Peddis and Sawssen Slimani join the 17th International Conference on Fundamental and Applied Aspects of Physical Chemistry. In the same period they visit the department of Physics, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences - University of Belgrade, Serbia and at Biosense Institute- University of Novi Sad, Serbia.
Thanks to Dr. Sonja Jovanović and Dr.Zoran Jovanović (form Vinča Institute, university of Belgrade ) a Dr.Nikola Knežević (from Biosense Institute, University of Novi Sad) and Ž. Čupić (The Society of Physical Chemists of Serbia) for the perfect organization and great hospitality!. The visit sas been partially granted by project REMAP
Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences-university of Belgrade, on September 27, 2024 and Biosense Institute - University of Novi Sad , on September 30, 2024, Serbia, hosted Dr. Sawssen Slimani and Prof. Davide Peddis. Davide and Sawssen had several meeting with young and senior scientist to plan exciting scientific collaboration. Dr. Slimani also delivered a seminar titled "Magnetic nano-hetero-structures: Design and advances in magnetic Separation," in both institutes, showcasing innovative approaches to the synthesis and magnetic separation of nano-heterostructures. The seminar prompted engaging discussions about the potential technological applications of these materials and the advances in their magnetic separation approaches. In the same period Davide and Sawssen Join the annual conference of the Physical Chemical Society. Davide gave a Plenary Talk entitled “Superspin glass: a useless materials” and Sawssen had an oral communication entitled “Exploring Surface Effects In Hollow Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
20.09.24
[Chapter]
Magnetic Micro- and Nanodisks: A Bridge Between Thin Films and Nanoparticles (S. Laureti et al, https://doi.org/10.1039/9781837672967-00076) – The contribution to the nM2-Lab to the new e-book Magnetic Nanoparticles: Materials Engineering, Properties and Applications.
When matter is reduced to the nanoscale, its physical and chemical properties change dramatically, leading to unique functionalities. Nanostructured magnetic materials, which include films and nanoparticles, exemplify this, showing different behaviors compared to bulk materials. While thin films, reduced to the nanoscale in one dimension, exhibit new physical properties, it's the interface between layers in complex heterostructures that holds promise for future applications. Nanoparticles, typically below 100 nanometers, can be fine-tuned through chemical composition, size, shape, and surface functionalization. Both films and nanoparticles can be used in biomedical applications, with specific choices depending on the desired outcome. Films, for example, are used in lab-on-chip devices for cell manipulation, while magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are crucial for targeted drug delivery and tracking in real-time, or even for magnetic hyperthermia to treat diseases. Recently, micro- and nano-disks have emerged, bridging the gap between films and nanoparticles. These disks, with thicknesses in the nanometer range and lateral dimensions of a few microns, offer unique opportunities for biomedical applications. This text outlines the state-of-the-art fabrication methods, including cost-effective lithography techniques, and discusses case studies of magnetic disks designed for medical purposes, highlighting both current challenges and future perspectives for this innovative technology.
27.09.24
[Paper]
A critical review on the use of nanostructured magnetic materials in bio.catalysis was collaboratively authored with the research team headed by Prof. Alessandro Pellis at DCCI, University of Genova (F. Papatola et al., Microbial Biotechnology, https://doi.org/ 10.1111/1751-7915.14481).
Supported by Mini Curiosity Driven funding given by the DCCI-UNIGE and Network 4 Energy 731 Sustainable Transition-NEST
The review article offers insights into the immobilization of various hydrolytic enzymes onto magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) for applications in synthetic organic chemistry. It begins with a brief overview of nanomagnetism, outlining the advantages and disadvantages of using MNPs for enzyme immobilization. The article then summarizes the key hydrolytic enzymes and their applications. Following this, the review discusses immobilization techniques, emphasizing the support of enzymes on MNPs, exploring the application of these techniques in the synthesis of small molecules, such as flavor esters, and polymers, including polyesters and polyamides. The conclusion and perspective section provides the author's personal viewpoint on future research, proposing the innovative idea of a synergistic, rational design of magnetic and biocatalytic components to create novel magnetic nano-architectures.
06.09.24
[Seminar]
The University of South Florida (USF), on September 5th and 6th hosted Professor Davide Peddis and Dr. Sawssen Slimani. Davide and Sawssen had several meeting with young an senior scientist to plan exciting scientific collaboration. Prof. Peddis as an expert in the field of Nanomagnetism, gave a seminar on Sustainable design of new permanent magnets. The seminar highlighted innovative approaches to the synthesis and application of new magnetic permanent magnets and their applications. Attendees were engaged in discussions on the future of permanent magnets in technology. Thanks to Prof. H Shrikan and Prof. M.H.Phan for the perfect organization and great hospitality! The visit has been granted by project e-APP (MAECI)
29.08.24
[Paper]
The nM2-Lab have contributed to the investigation of the angular magnetic properties of BaFe12O19 thin films deposited on Al2O3 (1120) substrates. The results were collected on a paper titled “In-plane hard magnetic BaFe12O19 thin films grown on a-plane Al2O3 substrates” published on Physica Scripta (N. Joseph et al., Phys. Scr. 2024 https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ad6f78).
This study was focused on the growth and deep magnetic characterization of BaFe12O19 (BaM) thin films on a-plane Al2O3 (1120) substrates. Three film samples of varying thicknesses up to 155 nm were prepared and their structural, morphological, and magnetic properties were analyzed. The results show that the growth of BaM film on Al2O3(1120) substrate is preceded by the initial formation of α-Fe2O3. This α-Fe2O3 layer acts as a bridge, facilitating the epitaxial growth of the BaM film and accommodating the large lattice mismatch between BaM and the substrate. As the film growth progresses, initial columnar grains transform into elongated grains with increasing film thickness. At the same time the saturation magnetization, coercivity, and squareness improved due to the BaM phase formation. Angle-dependent magnetic properties showed that the thicker films possess an in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy along the BaM [0001] direction, which becomes more evident as the film thickness increases.
17.08.24
[Paper]
nM2-Lab gave a key contribution to the paper “Effect of bismuth ferrite nanoparticles on physicochemical properties of polyvinylidene fluoride-based nanocomposites” (D. Petrukhin et al., J. Compos. Sci. 8 (2024) 329, https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8080329) driven by the group of Prof. Valeria Rodionova and focused on polymer based magnetic nanocomposites.
In this study, 60 μm thick films of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) were produced by solution casting with varying amounts of bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3, BFO) nanoparticles. The incorporation of BFO enhances the piezoelectric properties of PVDF by promoting the formation of β- and γ-phases and introduces magnetic characteristics. Additionally, BFO alters the polymer's structural properties, including crystallinity, porosity, and hydrophobicity.
02.08.24
[Paper]
A new paper titled “Magnetic anisotropy and interactions in hard/soft core/shell nanoarchitectures: The role of shell thickness” was published by the nM2-Lab in collaboration with other groups (A. Omelyanchik et al., Chem. Mat. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.4c01421]).
Supported by “Network 4 Energy 731 Sustainable Transition-NEST”, PathFinder Open programme under grant (REMAP), ERA-MIN3 (Rendering 3D), and Greek Research & Technology Network (GRNET).
The study, driven nM2-lab explores the magnetic behavior of core@shell nanoarchitectures, combining semi-hard magnetic cobalt ferrite cores with soft magnetic nickel ferrite shells. The research reveals a complex relationship between shell thickness and magnetic properties, particularly coercivity. As shell thickness increases, coercivity changes non-monotonically due to competing magnetic anisotropies and interparticle interactions. These single-crystal nanoarchitectures exhibit rigid exchange coupling, behaving as unified magnetic units. Monte Carlo simulations support the experimental findings, offering insights into the interplay between nanoparticle structure and magnetic behavior, with potential applications in advanced magnetic materials and nanotechnology.
30.07.24
[Paper]
The collaboration between the nM2-Lab, the group led by Prof. Tapati Sarkar at Uppsala University and several colleagues from DCCI at the University of Genoa (UNIGE) has resulted in the publication of a joint paper titled "Magnetic nanocomposite for lead (II) removal from water" (A.Shahzad et al., Sci.Rep. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-68491-8).
Supported by “ (1) The ÅForsk Foundation (Grant Number 21-231), Stiftelsen Olle Engkvist Byggmästare (Grant Number 214-0346), and the Swedish Research Council (Grant Number 202103675). (2) The NATO Science for Peace and Security Program (NATO SPS, Grant No. MYP G5885, project acronym: TANGO).
The study explores the use of magnetic perovskite-spinel oxide nanocomposite synthesized through a sol–gel self-combustion process for the first time as an adsorbent to remove toxic heavy metals (i.e., Pb2+). The synthesized LaFeO3:CoFe2O4 [(LFO)1:(CFO)x] (x = 0.11–0.87) nanocomposites possess good stability, abundant oxygenated active binding sites, and unique structural features, making them suitable for removing divalent Pb2+ ions. Batch tests confirmed that (LFO)1:(CFO)x efficiently removes Pb2+ from water with a maximum adsorption capacity of 105.96 mg/g. Additionally, a new ring-magnetic separator system has been developed to provides large magnetic field gradient to maximize the magnetic separation of the toxic ions at a higher speed compared to traditional block magnets, which illustrates to be a promising route to tackle the separation problem post adsorption.
15.07.24
[Seminar]
“Pumping Iron: Revealing Counterintuitive Mechanisms of Magnetization Dynamics”. Prof. Satoru Emori (Virginia Tech, US ), 2024 IEEE Magnetics Society Distinguished Lecturer.
30.06.2024
[Award]
The 2024 AIMagn Medal Award was conferred to Dr. Dino Fiorani for the important results achieved in the field of magnetism and for the extraordinary activity in promoting Italian research on magnetism at the international level.
16.06.2024
[Paper]
The nM2-lab team gave a key contribution to the paper "Combining high energy ball milling and liquid crystal templating method to prepare magnetic ordered mesoporous silica. A physico-chemical investigation".
A. Scano et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. [Link]
The artwork is featured on the inside back cover.
01.05.2024
[PhD Students]
Two PhD students have joined our group: H. Husnain, who will be working on suitable permanent magnets, and M. Bakhtiyar, who will be working on synthetic antiferromagnets for biomedical applications.
30.04.2024
[Award]
The technology covered by the patent "Direct synthesis of L10-FeNi other metal Alloys" (PCT/IB2023/062068) has passed the first phase of selections in the Intellectual Property Award 2023 competition.
18.03.2024
[Award]
Best PhD Thesis Award 2024 awarded by the Liguria section of the Italian Chemical Society to Pierfrancesco Maltoni. [Link]
25.01.2024
[Paper]
The nM2-lab team contributed to the paper “Dipolar skyrmions and antiskyrmions of arbitrary topological charge at room temperature”. M. Hassan et al., Nature Physics, 2024. [Link]
03.10.24
[Paper]
A new paper titled “A new hybrid gadolinium nanoparticles-loaded polymeric material for neutron detection in rare event searches”, was published by the nM2-Lab in collaboration the WINMP Dark Matter group at UNIGE and INFN (F.Acerbi et al., Journal of Instrumentation, 2024. DOI: 10.1088/1748-0221/19/09/P09021).
Supported by “São Paulo’s Research Foundation (FAPESP) Grant 2021/11489-7; Ivone Albuquerque and Edivaldo M. Santos are partially supported by the Brazilian CNPq. B. Costa and R. Perez are supported by FAPESP and L. Kerr by CNPq .