Characteristics of multifunctional Fe3O4/SiO2/ZrO2 structures prepared using two-step solution processes

Abstract

Multifunctional nanoparticles with a core/shell structure of Fe3O4/mSiO(2)/ZrO2 were prepared using two-step solution processes. First, magnetite (Fe3O4) core nanoparticles were prepared using the solvothermal method, then SiO2 and ZrO2 shell layers were coated on nanoparticles using a modified sol-gel method. The average diameter of the prepared Fe3O4 particles was similar to 200 nm. SiO2 layer with the thickness of similar to 50 nm and ZrO2 layer with the thickness of similar to 5 nm were coated on the surface of the Fe3O4 core the particles. When heated to a temperature of 800 degrees C for 2 hours, the annealed core-shell nanoparticles exhibited crystallization, even in the ZrO2 shell layer.