A solution phase fabrication of magnetic nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon

Abstract

To avoid high energy consumption, intensive use of hardware and high cost in the manufacture of nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon, a simple, efficient and economical solution-phase method for the fabrication of FeNi@C nanostructures has been explored. The reaction to the magnetic metal@C structures here is conducted at a relatively low temperature (160 °C) and this strategy can be transferred to prepare other transition metal@C core–shell nanostructures. The saturation magnetization of metal in metal@C nanostructures is similar to those of the corresponding buck metals. Magnetic metal@C nanostructures with magnetic metal nanoparticles inside and a functionalized carbon surface outside may not only provide the opportunity to tailor the magnetic properties for magnetic storage devices and therapeutics but also make possible the loading of other functional molecules (e.g. enzymes, antigens) for clinic diagnostics, molecular biology, bioengineering, and catalysis.