Nanospheres of silica with an epsilon-Fe2O3 single crystal nucleus.
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.
Taboada
Elena
E
Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus de la UAB, Bellaterra, Spain.
Gich
Martí
M
Roig
Anna
A