title: Gold nanotriangles decorated with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles: a compositional and microstructural study.
abstract: The combination of iron oxide and gold in a single nanoparticle results in both magnetic and plasmonic properties that can stimulate novel applications in bio-sensing, medical imaging, or therapeutics. Microwave assisted heating allows the fabrication of multi-component, multi-functional nanostructures by promoting selective heating at desired sites. Recently, we reported a microwave-assisted polyol route yielding gold nanotriangles decorated with iron oxide nanoparticles. Here, we present an in-depth microstructural and compositional characterization of the system using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). A method to remove the iron oxide nanoparticles from the gold nanocrystals and some insights on crystal nucleation and growth mechanisms are also provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hachtel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lupini
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Pantelides
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gich
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laromaine
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roig