The magnetocaloric properties of a composite material consisting of isolated Gd2O3 nanoparticles with a diameter of 6–8 nm embedded in the pores of a mesoporous silica matrix have been studied. The fascinating nanostructure and composition were properly characterized by small angle X-ray scattering, X-ray absorption near edge structure, and TEM. Almost ideal paramagnetic behavior of the material was observed in the temperature range of 1.8–300 K. When compared to various nanosystems, the presented composite exhibits an extraordinarily large magnetic entropy change of 40 J/kg K for a field variation of 0–5 T at cryogenic temperature (3 K). Considering only the mass of the Gd2O3 nanoparticle fraction, this corresponds to 120 J/kg K. Calculated refrigerant capacities are 100 J/kg and 400 J/kg for the composite and nanoparticles, respectively. Our findings suggest that the combination of the unique porous structure of amorphous silica with fine gadolinium oxide nanoparticles and high value of magnetic entropy change enables to extend the application of the Gd2O3@SiO2 composite, to cryomagnetic refrigeration. In addition, the characteristics of the thermomagnetic behavior have been studied using the scaling analysis of the magnetic entropy change.

Magnetic properties of three variants of MOF-76(Gd), {[Gd(BTC)(H₂O)]·G}_n (BTC = benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, G = guest molecules) were investigated by static susceptibility, isothermal magnetization and specific heat capacity measurements. In the study we used as synthesized MOF-76(Gd)-DMF (1) (G = DMF = dimethylformamide), containing DMF molecules in the cavity system, compound MOF-76(Gd) (2), activated complex without solvents in the cavities and water exchanged sample MOF-76(Gd)-H₂O (3). A pronounced change in the magnetic entropy was found near the critical temperature for all three compounds. It was shown, that magnetic entropy change depends on the solvatation of the MOF. The highest value entropy change, ΔS_Mpk(T) was observed for compound 2 (ΔS_Mpk(T) = 42 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 1.8 K for ΔH = 5 T). The ΔS_Mpk(T) for the compounds 1, 2 and 3 reached 81.8, 88.4 and 100% of the theoretical values, respectively. This suggests that in compound 3 Gd³⁺···Gd³⁺ antiferromagnetic interactions are decoupled gradually, and higher fields promote a larger decoupling between the individual spin centers. The observed entropy changes of compounds were comparable with other magnetic refrigerants proposed for low-temperature applications. To study the magnetothermal effect of 2 (the sample with largest −ΔS_Mpk), the temperature-dependent heat capacities (C) at different fields were measured. The value of magnetic entropy S obtained from heat capacities (39.5 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 1.8 K for an applied magnetic field change of 5 T) was in good agreement with that derived from the magnetization data (42 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 1.8 K).

One-dimensional (1D) chain-like nanocomposites, created by ensembles of nanoparticles of with diameter ∼ 13 nm, which are composed of an iron core (∼4 nm) and a silica protective layer, were prepared by a self-assembly process. Chain-like Fe@SiO2 ensembles were formed due to strong magnetic dipole–dipole interactions between individual Fe nanoparticles and the subsequent fixation of the Fe particles by the SiO2 layers. X-ray near edge absorption spectra measurements at the Fe K absorption edge confirm that the presence of a silica layer prevents the oxidation of the magnetic Fe core. Strong magnetic interactions between Fe cores lead to long-range ordering of magnetic moments, and the nanoparticle ensembles exhibit superferromagnetic characteristics demonstrated by a broad blocking Zero-field cooling (ZFC)/field-cooling distribution, nearly constant temperature dependence of ZFC magnetization, and non-zero coercivity at room temperature. Low room-temperature coercivity and the presence of electrically insulating SiO2 shells surrounding the Fe core make the studied samples suitable candidates for microelectronic applications.

Structural characteristics of nanocomposite series consisting of iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in the regular pores of amorphous silica matrix (SBA-15) were investigated by means of small angle neutron scattering (SANS). By virtue of unique neutron properties, insight into the inner structure and matter organization of this kind of systems was facilitated for the first time. Based on rigorous experimental support, fundamental model describing the neutron scattering intensity distribution was proposed by assuming general composite structural features. Model application to SANS data confirmed the presence of iron oxide NPs in the body of examined matrices, providing additional information on their shape, concentration and size distribution. Scattering superposition principle employed in the model conception allows for tailoring its fundamental characteristics, and renders it a potent and versatile tool for a wide range of applications.

Structural changes introduced by cholesterol and melatonin to the model membranes mimicking preclinical conformational diseases