%0 Journal Article
%A Almeida, Trevor P.
%A Kasama, Takeshi
%A Muxworthy, Adrian R.
%A Williams, Wyn
%A Nagy, Lesleis
%A Hansen, Thomas W.
%A Brown, Paul D.
%A Dunin-Borkowski, Rafal
%T Visualized effect of oxidation on magnetic recording fidelity in pseudo-single-domain magnetite particles
%J Nature Communications
%V 5
%@ 2041-1723
%C London
%I Nature Publishing Group
%M FZJ-2015-02584
%P 5154 
%D 2014
%X Magnetite (​Fe3O4) is an important magnetic mineral to Earth scientists, as it carries the dominant magnetic signature in rocks, and the understanding of its magnetic recording fidelity provides a critical tool in the field of palaeomagnetism. However, reliable interpretation of the recording fidelity of ​Fe3O4 particles is greatly diminished over time by progressive oxidation to less magnetic iron oxides, such as maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), with consequent alteration of remanent magnetization potentially having important geological significance. Here we use the complementary techniques of environmental transmission electron microscopy and off-axis electron holography to induce and visualize the effects of oxidation on the magnetization of individual nanoscale ​Fe3O4 particles as they transform towards γ-Fe2O3. Magnetic induction maps demonstrate a change in both strength and direction of remanent magnetization within ​Fe3O4 particles in the size range dominant in rocks, confirming that oxidation can modify the original stored magnetic information.
%F PUB:(DE-HGF)16
%9 Journal Article
%U <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000343980700018
%$ pmid:25300366
%R 10.1038/ncomms6154
%U https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/189417