LAUSR

Abstract Effect of Ag inclusions on magnetic properties and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) in the mixed system of Fe3O4 and Ag NPs in dependence on the relative concentration of the components is presented. The samples were synthesized by the thermal decomposition of the mixture of constant concentration of Fe(NO3)3·9H2O and varied concentration of AgNO3. The synthesized powdered samples consisted of Fe3O4 and Ag NPs located very close with each other, and in the most cases the Fe3O4 NPs were bordered with the Ag nanocrystals. The Ag introducing in the samples does not effect, practically, in the Fe3O4 NPs morphology and size distribution. At the same time, Ag NPs in the powdered samples cause a decrease in the Fe3O4 NPs magnetization and shift of the blocking temperature to lower temperatures, both approximately proportional to the Ag concentration. Most significant changes are revealed in the MCD spectra in the energy region of 1.2–2.2 eV. We have discussed the influence of the Ag NPs on the MCD spectra features in terms of the charge-transfer electron transitions.