Abstract
The magnetization of cobalt ferrite nanocubes of similar size, but with varying Co/Fe ratio, is extensively characterized on atomistic and nanoscopic length scales. Combination of X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, magnetization measurements and polarized small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) reveals that a lower amount of cobalt leads to an enhanced magnetization. At the same time, magnetic SANS confirms no or negligible near-surface spin disorder in these highly crystalline, homogeneously magnetized nanoparticles, resulting in an exceptionally hard magnetic material with high coercivity.