Magnetic properties of Pd–Ag nanoalloys obtained by liquid-assisted mechanochemical pathway

In this work, we present and discuss the magnetic properties of relatively low silver content Pd100-xAgx nanoalloys (x = 0, 2, 5, 10) obtained by a low cost solvent-assisted mechanochemical synthetic route. Formation of Pd–Ag solid solutions was verified by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy analyses. Room temperature magnetic characterization of these nanoalloys indicated a paramagnetic response characterized by a magnetic moment lying within the range 0.92–1.95 Bohr magnetons. In contrast, magnetization curves at 5 K exhibited ferromagnetic behavior together with coercive fields between 20 and 168 Oe. The influence of Ag on the electronic structure of the Pd100-xAgx nanoalloys was characterized by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy analysis, for which a charge transfer mechanism determines the magnetic response observed for the nanoalloys studied.