title: Nanospheres of silica with an epsilon-Fe2O3 single crystal nucleus.
abstract: A route to produce single crystals of epsilon-Fe(2)O(3) individually wrapped in a silica shell is presented. Formation of epsilon-Fe(2)O(3)/silica nanospheres was achieved by controlled recrystallization of maghemite particles confined in silica shells via calcination in air. Phase transition was monitored by X-ray diffraction, magnetometry, and transmission electron microscopy. Core-shell nanocomposite particles can be dispersed as a colloidal suspension in several polar liquids enlarging the processability spectrum of the material and thus facilitating the use of epsilon-Fe(2)O(3) in technological applications and its integration in devices.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus de la UAB, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taboada
authors.forename: Martí
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gich
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roig