Perspective: Ferromagnetic Liquids

Abstract

Mechanical jamming of nanoparticles at liquid–liquid interfaces has evolved into a versatile approach to structure liquids with solid-state properties. Ferromagnetic liquids obtain their physical and magnetic properties, including a remanent magnetization that distinguishes them from ferrofluids, from the jamming of magnetic nanoparticles assembled at the interface between two distinct liquids to minimize surface tension. This perspective provides an overview of recent progress and discusses future directions, challenges and potential applications of jamming magnetic nanoparticles with regard to 3D nano-magnetism. We address the formation and characterization of curved magnetic geometries, and spin frustration between dipole-coupled nanostructures, and advance our understanding of particle jamming at liquid–liquid interfaces.

Keywords

• ferromagnetic liquids
• magnetism in curved geometries
• self-assembly
• magnetic nanoparticles
• liquid robotics