RSC Publishing


Publishing

 

Cover image for Annual Reports on the Progress of Chemistry Section C (Physical Chemistry) , select for current issue

Annual Reports on the Progress of Chemistry Section C (Physical Chemistry)

Section C reviews annual developments in physical chemistry and chemical physics research




Review

Annu. Rep. Prog. Chem., Sect. C: Phys. Chem., 2007, 103, 351 - 402, DOI: 10.1039/b605630j


Colloidal magnetic nanocrystals: synthesis, properties and applications

Doh C. Lee, Danielle K. Smith, Andrew T. Heitsch and Brian A. Korgel


There has been a tremendous research effort in the past few years in colloidal magnetic nanocrystals. New synthetic methods have been developed that enable a wide variety of magnetic materials to be synthesized in nanocrystal form, including ferromagnetic transition metals, intermetallics and metal oxides. These nanocrystals can be obtained with controlled size, shape and composition. Nanocrystal heterostructures, such as core/shell particles and heterodimers can be synthesized. New materials such as doped magnetic semiconductor quantum dots and nanowires have been made. The magnetic properties of these unique nanostructures have been measured and their applications in medicine, information storage and processing and sensing are being developed. This review attempts to provide a summary and a flavor for this exciting research area as it has evolved during the past few years.