Templated Synthesis of Magnetic Nanoparticles through the Self-Assembly of Polymers and Surfactants.
The synthesis of superparamagnetic nanoparticles (NPs) for various technological applications continues to be an interesting research topic. The successful application of superparamagnetic NPs to each specific area typically depends on the achievement of high magnetization for the nanocrystals obtained, which is determined by their average size and size distribution. The size dispersity of magnetic NPs (MNPs) is markedly improved when, during the synthesis, the nucleation and growth steps of the reaction are well-separated. Tuning the nucleation process with the assistance of a hosting medium that encapsulates the precursors (such as self-assembled micelles), dispersing them in discrete compartments, improves control over particle formation. These inorganic-organic hybrids inherit properties from both the organic and the inorganic materials, while the organic component can also bring a specific functionality to the particles or prevent their aggregation in water. The general concept of interest in this review is that the shape and size of the synthesized MNPs can be controlled to some extent by the geometry and the size of the organic templates used, which thus can be considered as molds at the nanometer scale, for both porous continuous matrices and suspensions.
University of Bordeaux, Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), UMR 5629, F-33600 Pessac, France. gauthier@uwaterloo.ca.|National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), LCPO, UMR 5629, F-33600 Pessac, France. gauthier@uwaterloo.ca.|Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada. gauthier@uwaterloo.ca.
Vo Thu An
VT
Nguyen
Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada. gauthier@uwaterloo.ca.
Mario
M
Gauthier
University of Bordeaux, Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), UMR 5629, F-33600 Pessac, France. olivier.sandre@enscbp.fr.|National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), LCPO, UMR 5629, F-33600 Pessac, France. olivier.sandre@enscbp.fr.
Olivier
O
Sandre
in situ synthesis; size and shape control; superparamagnetic nanoparticles (NPs); templated synthesis