Exchange-enhanced Pauli spin paramagnetism in Ni3C nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanoparticle samples containing the mixture of Ni₃C (∼44 - 42 wt%), FCC-Ni (∼5 wt%) and “weak-magnetic” impurities (∼51–53 wt%) were studied. The detailed analysis of magnetization curves of the samples allowed the contribution of magnetization isotherm to be distinguished for nickel carbide at a low temperature ranging from 2 K to 25 K and at an intensity of magnetic field H ranging from 21 до 50 kOe. Exchange-enhanced Pauli spin paramagnetism in nanocrystalline Ni₃C is evidenced by the magnetic data presented as Belov-Arrott plots and a temperature dependence of initial magnetic susceptibility.