Electrodeposition of iron core-shell nanoparticles on a H-terminated Si(100) surface

Iron core-shell nanoparticles with different morphologies were obtained on a H-terminated Si(100) surface for the first time by electrodeposition at different FeCl3 concentrations. At 10 mM, near-monosized and uniformly distributed oval-shaped nanorod Fe particles (130nmlength×25nmdiameter), with a mixed FeOOH and FeO shell, have been obtained. At 0.1 mM, spherical Fe nanoparticles (6–40 nm diameter) with a broader size distribution and a mixed Fe2O3 and FeO shell were observed. The morphologies and compositions of these two types of Fe core-shell nanoparticles could be easily manipulated to provide magnetic properties of potential industrial interest.