Development of integrated AC-DC magnetometer using high-T_c SQUID for magnetic properties evaluation of magnetic nanoparticles in solution

We developed an integrated AC-DC magnetometer using a high critical temperature superconducting quantum interference device (high-T_c SQUID) to evaluate the static and dynamic magnetic properties of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in solution. The flux-transformer method consisted of first-order planar and axial differential coils that were constructed for static and dynamic magnetization measurements, respectively. Vibrating-sample and harmonic detection techniques were used to reduce interference from excitation magnetic fields in the static and dynamic magnetization measurements, respectively. Static and dynamic magnetization measurements were performed on commercially available iron oxide nanoparticles in diluted solutions. The magnetic responses increased with the increase in concentration of the solutions in both measurement results. The magnetization curves showed that the diamagnetic signal due to the carrier liquid of the iron oxide nanoparticles existed in a dilute solution. Biasing with a proper DC magnetic field in the dynamic magnetization measurement resulted in improved signals of the second and third harmonics. Therefore, highly sensitive magnetic characterizations of MNPs utilizing the static and dynamic magnetization measurement are possible via the developed system.