BaFe12O19 single-particle-chain nanofibers: preparation, characterization, formation principle, and magnetization reversal mechanism.

BaFe(12)O(19) single-particle-chain nanofibers have been successfully prepared by an electrospinning method and calcination process, and their morphology, chemistry, and crystal structure have been characterized at the nanoscale. It is found that individual BaFe(12)O(19) nanofibers consist of single nanoparticles which are found to stack along the nanofiber axis. The chemical analysis shows that the atomic ratio of Ba/Fe is 1:12, suggesting a BaFe(12)O(19) composition. The crystal structure of the BaFe(12)O(19) single-particle-chain nanofibers is proved to be M-type hexagonal. The single crystallites on each BaFe(12)O(19) single-particle-chain nanofibers have random orientations. A formation mechanism is proposed based on thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at six temperatures, 250, 400, 500, 600, 650, and 800 °C. The magnetic measurement of the BaFe(12)O(19) single-particle-chain nanofibers reveals that the coercivity reaches a maximum of 5943 Oe and the saturated magnetization is 71.5 emu/g at room temperature. Theoretical analysis at the micromagnetism level is adapted to describe the magnetic behavior of the BaFe(12)O(19) single-particle-chain nanofibers.