Electrospinning fabrication of high-performance magnetic@photoluminescent bifunctional coaxial nanocables

Novel magnetic@photoluminescent bifunctional coaxial nanocables have been successfully fabricated by electrospinning technology. As an example, Terbium complex Tb(BA)3phen (BA = benzoic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) and ferroferric oxide nanoparticles were incorporated into polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and electrospun into coaxial nanocables with Fe3O4/PVP as core and Tb(BA)3phen/PVP as the shell. The morphology and properties of the final products were investigated in detail by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and a fluorescence spectrometer. The core diameter was ca. 150 nm containing magnetic nanoparticles and the shell thickness was ca. 110 nm. Fluorescence emission peaks of Tb3+ in the Fe3O4/PVP@Tb(BA)3phen/PVP coaxial nanocables were observed. Compared with Tb(BA)3phen/PVP nanofibers, the luminescent intensity of the Fe3O4/PVP@Tb(BA)3phen/PVP coaxial nanocables was almost not weakened in spite of the existence of the non-luminescent Fe3O4/PVP core. The as-prepared coaxial nanocables possessed excellent magnetic properties. The new type bifunctional magnetic–photoluminescent Fe3O4/PVP@Tb(BA)3phen/PVP coaxial nanocables have many potential applications in display device, nanorobots, protein determination and target delivery of drug due to their excellent magnetism and fluorescence.

Graphical abstractFe3O4/PVP@Tb(BA)3phen/PVP coaxial nanocables were fabricated by coaxial electrospinning technology and showed high fluorescent and magnetic properties because the Fe3O4 nanoparticles were only distributed in the core of the Fe3O4/PVP@Tb(BA)3phen/PVP coaxial nanocables. The colour of the nanocables can be changed via adding various fluorescent substances, and fluorescent and saturation magnetic intensities of the nanocables can be tuned.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Bifunctional magnetic@photoluminescent coaxial nanocables have been prepared. ► Nanocables possess excellent magnetic properties and superior photoluminescence. ► Nanocables possess high magnetism while the fluorescence is barely weakened. ► Colour of the nanocables can be changed via adding various fluorescent substances. ► Fluorescent and saturation magnetic intensities of the nanocables can be tuned.