Implications and consequences of ferromagnetism universally exhibited by inorganic nanoparticles

Occurrence of surface ferromagnetism in inorganic nanoprticles as a universal property not only explains many of the unusual magnetic features of oxidic thin films, but also suggests its possible use in creating new materials, as exemplified by multiferroic BaTiO3 nanoparticles. While the use of Mn-doped ZnO and such materials in spintronics appears doubtful, it is possible to have materials exhibiting coexistence of (bulk) superconductivity with (surface) ferromagnetism.