Nanoparticle, method of producing nanoparticle and magnetic recording medium

Abstract

A method of producing a nanoparticle, the method comprising: a reducing step of adding an reverse micelle solution (II) obtained by mixing a water-insoluble organic solvent containing a surfactant with an aqueous metal salt solution to an reverse micelle solution (I) obtained by mixing a water-insoluble organic solvent containing a surfactant with an aqueous reducing agent solution, to carry out a reducing reaction; and a maturing step of raising the temperature of the reduced mixture to mature the reduced mixture is provided. A method of producing a plural type alloy nanoparticle, the method comprising producing a nanoparticle made of a plural type alloy through a reducing step of mixing one or more reverse micelle solutions (I) containing a metal salt with an reverse micelle solution (II) containing a reducing agent to carry out reducing treatment and a maturing step of carrying out maturing treatment is also provided.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a nanoparticle, a method of producing a nanoparticle, and a magnetic recording medium [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] In order to increase magnetic recording density, it is necessary to decrease the particle size of magnetic bodies contained in a magnetic layer. In magnetic recording media used widely in videotapes, computer tapes, disks, and the like, noise decreases with the decrease in particle size when the mass of the ferromagnetic body is the same. [0005] CuAu type or Cu3Au type hard magnetic regular alloys have large crystal magnetic anisotropy because of distortion caused when regulated so that they exhibit hard magnetic characteristics even if they are reduced in particle size and put in a nanoparticle state. Therefore, these alloys are promising materials for improving magnetic g density. [0006] Examples of methods for synthesizing nanoparticles capable of f...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides nanoparticles that are easy to control and have high coatability. The nanoparticles can be produced using a reverse micelle solution containing a metal salt and a reducing agent. The nanoparticles can be dispersed in a magnetic layer and exhibit hard magnetism. The invention also provides a method for producing a plural type alloy nanoparticle with controlled composition and a low transformation temperature. The nanoparticles can be used in a magnetic recording medium and have superior properties.

Problems solved by technology

The alcohol reduction method (1) has poor reduction ability.

Therefore, when reducing a precious metal and a base metal at the same time, it is hard to form a uniform alloy and many alloys end up having a core / shell structure.

In the case of the polyol reduction method (2) and the heat decomposition method (3), a high-temperature reaction is required and these methods are therefore inferior in production aptitude.

However, in these methods, coagulation and precipitation tend to be caused and it is therefore difficult to obtain a small monodispersible particle without implementing a special technique in the reaction system.

In this case, the amount of polymers after synthesis is very large and is difficult to decrease to the required amount.

This method is, however, very hazardous because highly toxic substances are used.

Also, in these methods, it is necessary to run a reaction in inert gas and at a temperature as high as nearly 300° C., hence these methods have the drawback that the apparatuses used are complicated and thus inferior from the standpoint of production aptitude.

However, detailed conditions and the like as to a method for obtaining metal nanoparticles having the intended composition and particle size have yet to be found.

These nanoparticles exhibiting soft magnetism or paramagnetism are not adaptable to recording media.

However, when the nanoparticle produced in the above methods is applied to a support, followed by annealing treatment to produce a magnetic recording medium, these nanoparticles tend to coagulate easily with each other leading to reduced coatability and deteriorated magnetic characteristics.

It is also difficult to form a perfect regular phase even if heat treatment is performed because the particle diameter of the resulting nanoparticle is uneven and therefore, there are cases where the desired hard magnetism is not obtained.

Also, the transformation temperature is generally as high as 500° C. or more and an organic support, which is commonly used, does not possess adequate heat resistance.

It is therefore difficult to form a magnetic film by applying a nanoparticle to the organic support, followed by carrying out annealing treatment.