Preparation of magnetite core–shell nanoparticles of Fe3O4 and carbon with aryl sulfonyl acetic acid

• Different core–shell nanoparticles with carbon and magnetite were prepared.
• The magnetic properties of nanoparticles are dependent on the size and surface state.
• C/Fe3O4 and Fe3O4/C nanoparticles exhibited superparamagnetic properties.

High quality Fe3O4/carbon core–shells and shell–core nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by depositing an epitaxial growth of Fe3O4 or carbon shell onto carbon or Fe3O4 nanocore. By employing the agents such as aryl sulfonyl acetic acid and glucose, Fe3O4 and carbon in a nanoscale was prepared from iron aryl sulfonyl acetate and then by the solvothermal reaction of glucose in a reverse microemulsion. The advantages of present approach rely not only on its simplicity, rapidity, and efficiency of the procedure, but also the formation of the controlled core–shell structures as well. It is highly suitable for further applications. Different core–shell structure controls could be attained by careful adjustment of the procedure sequences of decarboxylation and solvothermal reaction. The magnetic studies show that Fe3O4/carbon core–shell and shell–core nanoparticles found to be superparamagnetic. The characteristic differences in the core–shell structures would lead to the change of magnetization behaviors of Fe3O4 nanoparticles.

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