AC Magnetic Technique to Measure Specific Absorption Rate of Magnetic Nanoparticles

The electrodynamic method is applied to determine the specific absorption rate (SAR) of an assembly of superparamagnetic nanoparticles as a function of frequency and magnetic field amplitude. The home made frequency-adjustable electromagnet is used to create a nearly uniform magnetic field in a core gap of a volume 1×3×3 cm 3 in the frequency range f =10–150 kHz and for magnetic field amplitudes up to H 0 =250 Oe. Two oppositely connected pick-up coils are used to record the electromotive force signal (EMF) generated by magnetic nanoparticles. By integrating the EMF signal one can determine the low-frequency hysteresis loops of the assembly and the assembly SAR. Using this method the measurement of SAR has been carried out for magnetite nanoparticles with an average diameter D =25 nm. The electrodynamic method is shown to be capable of measuring a small amount of magnetic nanoparticles, up to 5×10 −5 g, dispersed in a solid matrix. The maximal SAR ∼ 80 W/g has been obtained for the magnetite nanoparticle assembly investigated.