Finite size effect on Neel temperature with Co3O4 nanoparticles

Finite size effect on the antiferromagnetic transition temperature, TN, of Co3O4 nanoparticles of 75, 35, and 16 nm in diameter, has been investigated. The AFM transition point, TN, reduces with the decreasing diameter, d. Along with the results from the previous experiments on the Co3O4 nanoparticles of 8 and 4.3 nm, the variation of TN with d appears to follow the finite size relation. According to the scaling behavior, the shift exponent is determined as lambda = 1.4 pm 0.4, the correlation length, ksi_0 = 3.0 pm 0.3 nm, and the bulk Neel temperature, TN(infint) = 38.6 pm 0.7 K.