We synthesized monocrystalline Fe3O4 nanocubes and polycrystalline nanospheres with tunable body diagonals and diameters via solvothermal and thermal decomposition reactions.  The dimensions of the spherical MNPs were tuned to obtain samples such that (i) for one set of spherical MNPs, the volume was equivalent to that of a targeted cubic MNP volume, and (ii) for a second set of spherical MNPs, the diameter was equivalent to the body diagonal of atargeted batch of cubic MNPs.  We used the vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) to compare the magnetic properties of the synthesized spherical and cubic Fe3O4 MNPs on a volumeand diameter/body diagonal basis.  As compared to the polycrystalline nanospheres, higher saturation magnetization for monocrystalline nanocubes make them more attractive for biosensing applications.  Our nanocubes also have a significantly higher coercivity as compared to their nanospherical counterparts of same volume or same diameter, which makes them more suitable for hyperthermia applications.  We demonstrate that both shape and crystallinity are important parameters that we can use to manipulate nanoscale magnetism in Fe3O4 MNPs in order to tailor them for a particular application.

Effect of shape and crystallinity on magnetic properties of Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanocubes and nanospheres

247th National Meeting (2014)

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Effect of shape and crystallinity on magnetic properties of Fe3O4 nanocubes and nanospheres

Effect of shape and crystallinity on magnetic properties of Fe₃O₄ nanocubes and nanospheres