Nanomechanical torque magnetometry of an individual aggregate of ∼350 nanoparticles
The measurements of magnetic hysteresis for aggregates of nanoparticles deposited on a surface are reported. Magnetite nanoparticles derived from magnetotactic bacteria are studied using nanomechanical torque magnetometry. The nanoparticles are deposited on high-stress Si3N4 membranes, to allow inspection by electron microscopy, followed by focused ion-beam milling of torsional resonators precisely located to capture selected aggregates within the membrane area. Torque magnetometry is performed using the resonators. We investigate also the magnetic torque-driven AC resonant modes of the modified supporting membrane. The observations are compared to numerical simulations of the mechanical modes, and to micromagnetic modeling of the hysteresis of a specific measured cluster of ∼350 nanoparticles.