Charge-transfer ferromagnetism in oxide nanoparticles

A new model is proposed for ferromagnetism associated with defects in the bulk or at the surface of nanoparticles. The basic idea is that a narrow, structured local density of states Ns(E) is associated with the defects, but the Fermi level (which may lie above or below a mobility edge) will not normally coincide with a peak in Ns(E). However, if there is a local charge reservoir, such as a dopant cation coexisting in two different charge states or a charge-transfer complex at the surface, then it may be possible for electron transfer to raise the Fermi level to a peak in the local density of states, leading to Stoner splitting of Ns(E). Spontaneous Stoner ferromagnetism can arise in percolating defect-rich regions, such as the nanoparticle surface. The charge-transfer ferromagnetism model may be applicable to a wide range of nanoparticles and thin films of dilute magnetic oxides have previously been regarded as dilute magnetic semiconductors.