Stabilization of Martensite and Austenite Phases and Realization of Two-way Martensitic Transition in Co-Ni-Ga Ferromagnetic Shape Memory Alloy Nanoparticles

Three sets of Co-Ni-Ga alloy nanoparticles have been synthesized by a template-free chemical route. Structural, morphological, shape memory, and magnetic properties of room temperature martensite (M) phase, dual (M + secondary γ) phase and austenite (A) phase Co-Ni-Ga nanoparticles are reported. Temperature-dependent XRD analysis revealed that Co₃₆Ni₃₆Ga₂₈ nanoparticles exhibiting a single M phase at room temperature, completely transform to A phase at ~1000 K. Upon cooling to room temperature, the A phase transforms back to single M phase, confirming the two-way martensitic transition in Co-Ni-Ga nanoparticles. Structural analysis shows that the γ-phase does not influence the martensitic transition of bi-phasic (M + γ) Co₄₁Ni₃₄Ga₂₅ nanoparticles. These nanoparticles display saturation magnetization ranging from 2.9 emu/g to 15.3 emu/g at room temperature. The γ phase could be introduced in A phase Co₄₄Ni₂₆Ga₃₀ nanoparticles when heated up to 1073 K. Curie temperatures of A and M phases are higher than the martensitic transition temperatures in all the samples, qualifying them as ferromagnetic shape memory alloy nanoparticles. Observation of M ↔ A phase transition, Co-Ni-Ga nanoparticles with tunable magnetic properties make them excellent candidates for low and high temperature nanoactuators and other ferromagnetic shape memory applications.