Nanoparticle Number and Nearest Neighbor Distance Effects on Simulations of Cobalt Catalysts Hysteresis Loop

This study investigates the magnetization of Cobalt (Co) nanoparticles with a centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure, under the magnetic field of the Earth. For that reason, the hysteresis loops of the material sample are exported. The nanoparticle number variation and the nearest neighbor distance effect, in the Co hysteresis loop are investigated, structural information that is useful for the sample preparation. For the simulations, the Finite Element Method (FEM) was used. From the simulation, it is proven that, the nanoparticle number effect does not change the hysteresis loop. In contrast, when the distance between the nanoparticles increases, the magnetization obtains smaller value. This study aims to build a novel, simple, and economical measurement arrangement enabling in situ magnetic measurements for ferromagnetic nanomaterial characterization. As the need for continuous knowledge of the condition and the phase of ferromagnetic nanoparticles is crucial in many applications, like catalytic processes, this work aims to introduce an alternative approach that will add another dimension to conventional chemical reaction engineering of the magnetic state of the material resolved in time and space and to contribute in the field of the monitoring and the early fault diagnosis of nanoparticle materials.