Magnetic Core/Shell and Quantum-Confined Semiconductor Nanoparticles via Chimie Douce Organometallic Synthesis

Ligand-stabilized metal atoms provide a unique entry to the synthesis of magnetic nanosized metal/metal oxide particles. When this technique is used in connection with a mesoporous template, formation of superparamagnetic particles in the pores of the template via a “ship-in-the-bottle” technique is possible. This chimie douce approach works also for pure metal oxides, such as TiO2. The Figure shows a sculpture found at the Trinity College campus, Dublin, Ireland representing a typical core/shell arrangement often found for composite nanoparticles.