Iron oxide nanoparticles are the most popular magnetic nanoparticles used in biomedical applications due to their low cost, low toxicity, and unique magnetic property. Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, including magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃), usually exhibit a superparamagnetic property as their size goes smaller than 20 nm, which are often denoted as superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and utilized for drug delivery, diagnosis, therapy, and etc. This review article gives a brief introduction on magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in terms of their fundamentals of magnetism, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and drug delivery, as well as the synthesis approaches, surface coating, and application examples from recent key literatures. Because the quality and surface chemistry play important roles in biomedical applications, our review focuses on the synthesis approaches and surface modifications of iron oxide nanoparticles. We aim to provide a detailed introduction to readers who are new to this field, helping them to choose suitable synthesis methods and to optimize the surface chemistry of iron oxide nanoparticles for their interests.

In this paper, we review the magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects (MCE) of binary R-T (R=Pr, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm; T=Ga, Ni, Co, Cu) intermetallic compounds (including RGa series, RNi series, R₁₂Co₇ series, R₃Co series and RCu₂ series), which have been investigated in detail in the past several years. The R-T compounds are studied by means of magnetic measurements, heat capacity measurements, magnetoresistance measurements and neutron powder diffraction measurements. The R-T compounds show complex magnetic transitions and interesting magnetic properties. The types of magnetic transitions are investigated and confirmed in detail by multiple approaches. Especially, most of the R-T compounds undergo more than one magnetic transition, which has significant impact on the magnetocaloric effect of R-T compounds. The MCE of R-T compounds are calculated by different ways and the special shapes of MCE peaks for different compounds are investigated and discussed in detail. To improve the MCE performance of R-T compounds, atoms with large spin (S) and atoms with large total angular momentum (J) are introduced to substitute the related rare earth atoms. With the atom substitution, the maximum of magnetic entropy change (Δ S_M), refrigerant temperature width (T_width) or refrigerant capacity (RC) is enlarged for some R-T compounds. In the low temperature range, binary R-T (R=Pr, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm; T=Ga, Ni, Co, Cu) intermetallic compounds (including RGa series, RNi series, R₁₂Co₇ series, R₃Co series and RCu₂ series) show excellent performance of MCE, indicating the potential application for gas liquefaction in the future.

Our recent progress on magnetic entropy change (ΔS) involving martensitic transition in both conventional and metamagnetic NiMn-based Heusler alloys is reviewed. For the conventional alloys, where both martensite and austenite exhibit ferromagnetic (FM) behavior but show differentmagnetic anisotropies, a positive ΔS as large as 4.1 J·kg^-1·K^-1 under a field change of 0–0.9 T was first observed at martensitic transition temperature T_M ~ 197 K. Through adjusting the Ni:Mn:Ga ratio to affect valence electron concentration e/a, T_M was successfully tuned to room temperature, and a large negative ΔS was observed in a single crystal. The -ΔS attained 18.0 J·kg^-1·K^-1 under a field change of 0–5 T. We also focused on the metamagnetic alloys that show mechanisms different from the conventional ones. It was found that post-annealing in suitable conditions or introducing interstitial H atoms can shift the T_M across a wide temperature range while retaining the strong metamagnetic behavior, and hence, retaining large magnetocaloric effect (MCE) and magnetoresistance (MR). The melt-spun technique can disorder atoms and make the ribbons display a B2 structure, but the metamagnetic behavior, as well as the MCE, becomes weak due to the enhanced saturated magnetization of martensites. We also studied the effect of Fe/Co co-doping in Ni₄₅(Co_1-xFe_x)5Mn36.6In13.4 metamagnetic alloys. Introduction of Fe atoms can assist the conversion of the Mn–Mn coupling from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic, thus maintaining the strong metamagnetic behavior and large MCE and MR. Furthermore, a small thermal hysteresis but significant magnetic hysteresis was observed around T_M in Ni₅₁Mn_49-xIn_x metamagnetic systems, which must be related to different nucleation mechanisms of structural transition under different external perturbations.

Our recent research on the Mn-based antiperovskite functional materials AXMn₃ (A: metal or semiconducting elements; X: C or N) is outlined. Antiperovskite carbides (e.g., AlCMn₃) show large magnetocaloric effect comparable to those of typical magnetic refrigerant materials. Enhanced giant magnetoresistance up to 70% at 50 kOe (1 Oe = 79.5775 A·m^-1) over a wide temperature span was obtained in Ga_1-xZn_xCMn₃ and GaCMn_3-xNi_x. In Cu_0.3Sn_0.5NMn_3.2, negative thermal expansion (NTE) was achieved in a wide temperature region covering room temperature (α = -6.8 ppm/K, 150 K-400 K). Neutron pair distribution function analysis suggests the Cu/Sn-Mn bond fluctuation is the driving force for the NTE in Cu_1-xSn_xNMn₃. In CuN_1-xC_xMn₃ and CuNMn_3-yCo_y, the temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) decreases monotonically from positive to negative as Co or C content increases. TCR is extremely low when the composition approaches the critical points. For example, TCR is ~ 1.29 ppm/K between 240 K and 320 K in CuN_0.95C_0.05Mn₃, which is one twentieth of that in the typical low-TCR materials (~ 25 ppm/K). By studying the critical scaling behavior and X deficiency effect, some clues of localized-electron magnetism have been found against the background of electronic itinerant magnetism.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the exotic properties displayed by correlated electronic materials such as high- T_c superconductivity in cuprates, colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) in manganites, and heavy-fermion compounds are intimately related to the coexistence of competing nearly degenerate states which couple simultaneously active degrees of freedom–charge, lattice, orbital, and spin states. The striking phenomena associated with these materials are due in a large part to spatial electronic inhomogeneities, or electronic phase separation (EPS). In many of these hard materials, the functionality is a result of the soft electronic component that leads to self-organization.
In this paper, we review our recent work on a novel spatial confinement technique that has led to some fascinating new discoveries about the role of EPS in manganites. Using lithographic techniques to confine manganite thin films to length scales of the EPS domains that reside within them, it is possible to simultaneously probe EPS domains with different electronic states. This method allows for a much more complete view of the phases residing in a material and gives vital information on phase formation, movement, and fluctuation.
Pushing this trend to its limit, we propose to control the formation process of the EPS using external local fields, which include magnetic exchange field, strain field, and electric field. We term the ability to pattern EPS “electronic nanofabrication.” This method allows us to control the global physical properties of the system at a very fundamental level, and greatly enhances the potential for realizing true oxide electronics.

Recent advances in the study of exchange couplings in magnetic films are introduced. To provide a comprehensive understanding of exchange coupling, we have designed different bilayers, trilayers and multilayers, such as anisotropic hard- /soft-magnetic multilayer films, ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic/ferromagnetic trilayers, [Pt/Co]/NiFe/NiO heterostructures, Co/NiO and Co/NiO/Fe trilayers on an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template. The exchange-coupling interaction between soft- and hard-magnetic phases, interlayer and interfacial exchange couplings and magnetic and magnetotransport properties in these magnetic films have been investigated in detail by adjusting the magnetic anisotropy of ferromagnetic layers and by changing the thickness of the spacer layer, ferromagnetic layer, and antiferromagnetic layer. Some particular physical phenomena have been observed and explained.

Since the discovery of giant magnetocaloric effect in MnFeP_1-xAs_x compounds, much valuable work has been performed to develop and improve Fe₂P-type transition-metal-based magnetic refrigerants. In this article, the recent progress of our studies on fundamental aspects of theoretical considerations and experimental techniques, effects of atomic substitution on the magnetism and magnetocalorics of Fe₂P-type intermetallic compounds MnFeX (X=P, As, Ge, Si) is reviewed. Substituting Si (or Ge) for As leads to an As-free new magnetic material MnFeP_1-xSi(Ge)_x. These new materials show large magnetocaloric effects resembling MnFe(P, As) near room temperature. Some new physical phenomena, such as huge thermal hysteresis and ‘virgin’ effect, were found in new materials. On the basis of Landau theory, a theoretical model was developed for studying the mechanism of phase transition in these materials. Our studies reveal that MnFe(P, Si) compound is a very promising material for room-temperature magnetic refrigeration and thermo-magnetic power generation.

The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in many rare earth (RE) based intermetallic compounds has been extensively investigated during the last two decades, not only due to their potential applications for magnetic refrigeration but also for better understanding of the fundamental problems of the materials. This paper reviews our recent progress on studying the magnetic properties and MCE in some binary or ternary intermetallic compounds of RE with low boiling point metal(s) (Zn, Mg, and Cd). Some of them exhibit promising MCE properties, which make them attractive for low temperature magnetic refrigeration. Characteristics of the magnetic transition, origin of large MCE, as well as the potential application of these compounds are thoroughly discussed. Additionally, a brief review of the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties in the quaternary rare earth nickel boroncarbides RENi₂B₂C superconductors is also presented.

It has long been noticed that special lattices contain single-electron flat bands (FB) without any dispersion. Since the kinetic energy of electrons is quenched in the FB, this highly degenerate energy level becomes an ideal platform to achieve strongly correlated electronic states, such as magnetism, superconductivity, and Wigner crystal. Recently, the FB has attracted increasing interest because of the possibility to go beyond the conventional symmetry-breaking phases towards topologically ordered phases, such as lattice versions of fractional quantum Hall states. This article reviews different aspects of FBs in a nutshell. Starting from the standard band theory, we aim to bridge the frontier of FBs with the textbook solidstate physics. Then, based on concrete examples, we show the common origin of FBs in terms of destructive interference, and discuss various many-body phases associated with such a singular band structure. In the end, we demonstrate real FBs in quantum frustrated materials and organometallic frameworks.

We survey the magnetocaloric effect in perovskite-type oxides (including doped ABO₃-type manganese oxides, A₃B₂O₇-type two-layered perovskite oxides, and A2B'B''O₆-type ordered double-perovskite oxides). Magnetic entropy changes larger than those of gadolinium can be observed in polycrystalline La_1-xCa_xMnO₃ and alkali-metal (Na or K) doped La_0.8Ca_0.2MnO₃ perovskite-type manganese oxides. The large magnetic entropy change produced by an abrupt reduction of magnetization is attributed to the anomalous thermal expansion at the Curie temperature. Considerable magnetic entropy changes can also be observed in two-layered perovskites La_1.6Ca_1.4Mn₂O₇ and La_2.5-xK_0.5+xMn₂O_7+δ (0 < x < 0.5), and double-perovskite Ba₂Fe_1+xMo_1-xO₆ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) near their respective Curie temperatures. Compared with rare earth metals and their alloys, the perovskite-type oxides are lower in cost, and they exhibit higher chemical stability and higher electrical resistivity, which together favor lower eddy-current heating. They are potential magnetic refrigerants at high temperatures, especially near room temperature.

Permanent magnets capable of reliably operating at high temperatures up to ~450℃ are required in advanced power systems for future aircrafts, vehicles, and ships. Those operating temperatures are far beyond the capability of Nd– Fe–B magnets. Possessing high Curie temperature, Sm–Co based magnets are still very important because of their hightemperature capability, excellent thermal stability, and better corrosion resistance. The extensive research performed around the year 2000 resulted in a new class of Sm₂(Co, Fe, Cu, Zr)₁₇-type magnets capable of operating at high temperatures up to 550℃. This paper gives a systematic review of the development of Sm–Co permanent magnets, from the crystal structures and phase diagrams to the intrinsic magnetic properties. An emphasis is placed on Sm₂(Co, Fe, Cu, Zr)₁₇-type magnets for operation at temperatures from 300℃ to 550℃. The thermal stability issues, including instantaneous temperature coefficients of magnetic properties, are discussed in detail. The significance of nanograin structure, nanocrystalline, and nanocomposite Sm–Co magnet materials, and prospects of future rare-earth permanent magnets are also given.

In this article, our recent progress concerning the effects of atomic substitution, magnetic field, and temperature on the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the LaFe_13-xAl_x compounds are reviewed. With an increase of the aluminum content, the compounds exhibit successively an antiferromagnetic (AFM) state, a ferromagnetic (FM) state, and a mictomagnetic state. Furthermore, the AFM coupling of LaFe_13-xAl_x can be converted to an FM one by substituting Si for Al, Co for Fe, and magnetic rare-earth R for La, or introducing interstitial C or H atoms. However, low doping levels lead to FM clusters embedded in an AFM matrix, and the resultant compounds can undergo, under appropriate applied fields, first an AFM-FM and then an FM-AFM phase transition while heated, with significant magnetic relaxation in the vicinity of the transition temperature. The Curie temperature of LaFe_13-xAl_x can be shifted to room temperature by choosing appropriate contents of Co, C, or H, and a strong magnetocaloric effect can be obtained around the transition temperature. For example, for the LaFe_11.5Al_1.5C_0.2H_1.0 compound, the maximal entropy change reaches 13.8 J·kg^-1·K^-1 for a field change of 0-5 T, occurring around room temperature. It is 42% higher than that of Gd, and therefore, this compound is a promising room-temperature magnetic refrigerant.

We focus on the ferromagnetic thin films and review progress in understanding the magnetization dynamic of coherent precession, its application in seeking better high frequency magnetic properties for magnetic materials at GHz frequency, as well as new approaches to these materials' characterization. High frequency magnetic properties of magnetic materials determined by the magnetization dynamics of coherent precession are described by the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation. However, the complexity of the equation results in a lack of analytically universal information between the high frequency magnetic properties and the magnetization dynamics of coherent precession. Consequently, searching for magnetic materials with higher permeability at higher working frequency is still done case by case.

Nanoparticles (NPs) with easily modified surfaces have been playing an important role in biomedicine. As cancer is one of the major causes of death, tremendous efforts have been devoted to advance the methods of cancer diagnosis and therapy. Recently, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) that are responsive to a magnetic field have shown great promise in cancer therapy. Compared with traditional cancer therapy, magnetic field triggered therapeutic approaches can treat cancer in an unconventional but more effective and safer way. In this review, we will discuss the recent progress in cancer therapies based on MNPs, mainly including magnetic hyperthermia, magnetic specific targeting, magnetically controlled drug delivery, magnetofection, and magnetic switches for controlling cell fate. Some recently developed strategies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) monitoring cancer therapy and magnetic tissue engineering are also addressed.

Ferromagnetic shape memory alloys, which undergo the martensitic transformation, are famous multifunctional materials. They exhibit many interesting magnetic properties around the martensitic transformation temperature due to the strong coupling between magnetism and structure. Tuning magnetic phase transition and optimizing the magnetic effects in these alloys are of great importance. In this paper, the regulation of martensitic transformation and the investigation of some related magnetic effects in Ni-Mn-based alloys are reviewed based on our recent research results.

Our recent research achievements in the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) properties of the CoFeB sandwiched by MgO and tantalum layers are summarized. We found that the PMA behaviors of Ta/CoFeB/MgO and MgO/CoFeB/Ta thin films are different. The larger PMA in the latter film is related to the lower magnetization of CoFeB deposited on MgO. Furthermore, we have demonstrated a large anomalous Hall effect in perpendicular CoFeB thin film. Our results show large anomalous Hall resistivity, large longitudinal resistivity, and low switching field can be achieved, all at the same time, in the perpendicular CoFeB thin film. Anomalous Hall effect with high and linear sensitivity is also found in an MgO/CoFeB/Ta thin film with a thick MgO layer, which opens a door for future device applications of perpendicular ferromagnetic thin films.

Ferromagnetic transition has generally been considered to involve only an ordering of magnetic moment with no change in the host crystal structure or symmetry, as evidenced by a wealth of crystal structure data from conventional X-ray diffractometry (XRD). However, the existence of magnetostriction in all known ferromagnetic systems indicates that the magnetic moment is coupled to the crystal lattice; hence there is a possibility that magnetic ordering may cause a change in crystal structure. With the development of high-resolution synchrotron XRD, more and more magnetic transitions have been found to be accompanied by simultaneous structural changes. In this article, we review our recent progress in understanding the structural change at a ferromagnetic transition, including synchrotron XRD evidence of structural changes at the ferromagnetic transition, a phenomenological theory of crystal structure changes accompanying ferromagnetic transitions, new insight into magnetic morphotropic phase boundaries (MPB) and so on. Two intriguing implications of non-centric symmetry in the ferromagnetic phase and the first-order nature of ferromagnetic transition are also discussed here. In short, this review is intended to give a self-consistent and logical account of structural change occurring simultaneously with a ferromagnetic transition, which may provide new insight for developing highly magneto-responsive materials.

The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of RTSi and RTAl systems with R=Gd-Tm, T=Fe-Cu and Pd, which have been widely investigated in recent years, is reviewed. It is found that these RTX compounds exhibit various crystal structures and magnetic properties, which then result in different MCE. Large MCE has been observed not only in the typical ferromagnetic materials but also in the antiferromagnetic materials. The magnetic properties have been studied in detail to discuss the physical mechanism of large MCE in RTX compounds. Particularly, some RTX compounds such as ErFeSi, HoCuSi, HoCuAl exhibit large reversible MCE under low magnetic field change, which suggests that these compounds could be promising materials for magnetic refrigeration in a low temperature range.

Recent progress of the preparation and applications of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) clusters as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probes is reviewed with regard to their applications in labeling and tracking cells in vivo, in diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases and tumors, and in drug delivery systems. Magnetic nanoparticles (NPs), especially SPIO nanoparticles, have long been used as MRI contrast agents and as an advantageous nanoplatform for drug delivery, taking advantage of their unique magnetic properties and ability to function at the molecular and cellular levels. Due to advances in nanotechnology, various means to control SPIO NPs' size, composition, magnetization and relaxivity have been developed, as well as ways to usefully modify their surface. Recently, self-assembly of SPIO NP clusters in particulate carriers–such as polymeric micelles, vesicles, liposomes, and layer-by-layer (LbL) capsules–have been widely studied for application as ultrasensitive MRI probes, owing to their remarkably high spin-spin (T₂) relaxivity and convenience for further functionalization.

We present our extensive research into magnetic anisotropy. We tuned the terrace width of Si(111) substrate by a novel method: varying the direction of heating current and consequently manipulating the magnetic anisotropy of magnetic structures on the stepped substrate by decorating its atomic steps. Laser-induced ultrafast demagnetization of a CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB magnetic tunneling junction was explored by the time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect (TRMOKE) for both the parallel state (P state) and the antiparallel state (AP state) of the magnetizations between two magnetic layers. It was observed that the demagnetization time is shorter and the magnitude of demagnetization is larger in the AP state than those in the P state. These behaviors are attributed to the ultrafast spin transfer between two CoFeB layers via the tunneling of hot electrons through the MgO barrier. Our observation indicates that ultrafast demagnetization can be engineered by the hot electron tunneling current. This opens the door to manipulate the ultrafast spin current in magnetic tunneling junctions. Furthermore, an all-optical TR-MOKE technique provides the flexibility for exploring the nonlinear magnetization dynamics in ferromagnetic materials, especially with metallic materials.