Mercury-based cobalt magnetic fluids and cobalt nanoparticles

This paper describes the synthesis of a magnetic and conducting liquid consisting of cobalt nanoparticles dispersed in mercury. The magnetic nanoparticles are obtained in one step by the electroreduction of a cobalt(II) solution on mercury. These particles are then extracted using an organic solution of surfactant in order to obtain a ferrofluid based on cobalt nanoparticles.