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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 February 2011
FePtCu nanoparticles with varying composition were synthesized by chemical solution-phase reduction of platinum and copper reagents and thermal decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl in the presence of oleic acid and oleyl amine stabilizers. As prepared the particles had fcc structure with an average diameter of 3.5 nm and were superparamagnetic. The particles were well dispersed in hydrocarbon solvents and could be self-assembled into two or three dimensions particles arrays with a variety of close-packing arrangements. Heat-treatment of the self-assembled films at temperatures above 550°C transformed the particles from the fcc to the L10 phase, giving in-plane coercivities as high as 9000 Oe. X-ray diffraction revealed that the Cu remained in the annealed FePtCu films and the presence of an extra peak, indicated a second phase was present. Consistent with one or more phases, the magnetic hysteresis curves could be decomposed into a hard component (Hc > 5,000 Oe) and a soft component (Hc < 2,000 Oe). Unlike our earlier results for Ag in FePt, adding Cu to FePt did not lower the temperature required for phase transformation from the fcc to the fct L10 phase.