Chemically synthesized FePt nanoparticles were coated with nonmagnetic SiO2 and MnO shells by sol–gel and polyol processes. TEM images show that the FePt/SiO2 nanoparticles exhibit a thick spherical shell. The size and morphology of the MnO shell can be controlled
by changing the reaction temperature, the molar ratio of surfactants/Mn(acac)2, and/or the concentration of precursor. The morphology of the MnO shell can be either spherical-like or cubic-like, depending on whether the molar ratio of surfactants/Mn(acac)2 is less than
or larger than 2. From XRD measurements, the spherical core/shell nanoparticles exhibit 3D random crystallographic orientation, while the cubic core/shell nanoparticles prefer (200) texture. The magnetic moment of FePt particles can be enhanced by coating with SiO2 and MnO shells.
Furthermore, the agglomeration of FePt particles upon the thermal annealing can be significantly inhibited with SiO2 and MnO shells.
Effects of Size and Size Distribution on the Magnetic Properties of Maghemite Nanoparticles and Iron-Platinum Core-Shell Nanoparticles
