Magnetic Nanomaterials: Chemical Design, Synthesis, and Potential Applications

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.7b00407
• Publication Date: 2018-02-07T19:44:02Z
• Authors: Kai Zhu; Yanmin Ju; Junjie Xu; Ziyu Yang; Song Gao; Yanglong Hou
• Keywords: Nanomaterials; Superparamagnetism; Nanomagnet

ConspectusMagnetic nanomaterials (MNMs) have attracted significant interest in the past few decades because of their unique properties such as superparamagnetism, which results from influence thermal energy on a ferromagnetic nanoparticle. In superparamagnetic size regime, moments nanoparticles fluctuate result energy. To understand fundamental behavior superparamagnetism and develop relevant potential applications, various preparation routes been explored to produce MNMs with desired structures. However, some challenges remain for well-defined magnetic nanostructures, including exchange-coupled nanomagnets, are considered next generation advanced magnets. case, effective synthetic methods required achieve control over chemical composition, size, structure MNMs. For instance, liquid-phase syntheses, set emerging approaches prepare facilitate precise nucleation specific growth processes diverse Among them, high-temperature organic-phase method is an indispensable one microstructures physical/chemical can be tuned by controlling reaction conditions precursor, surfactant, or solvent amounts, temperature time, atmosphere, etc.In this Account, we present overview our progress synthesis MNMs, monocomponent nanostructures (e.g., metals, metal alloys, oxides/carbides) multicomponent (heterostructures nanomagnets). We emphasize method, focused decade. Notably, obtained growing incorporating different functional components together, not only retain functionalities each single component but also possess synergic that emerge interfacial coupling, improved magnetic, optical, catalytic features. Herein, applications covered three representative areas: biomedicine, catalysis, environmental purification. Regarding detect target biological entities after being modified biomolecules, they applied resonance imaging, imaging-guided drug delivery, photothermal therapy. Apart features, performance resulting highly surface will briefly introduced, highlighting its impact methanol oxidation reaction, oxygen reduction hydrogen evolution reactions, Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. Finally, purification, primarily water remediation, highlighted two main aspects: capture bacteria removal adverse ions wastewater.We hope Account clarify controllable compositions, sizes, structures generate broad realms biomedicine catalysis well issues other applications.