Synthesis of magnetic GdC2 nanoparticles using cavitation plasma

•A facile method is used to synthesize single phase GdC2 nanoparticles.•First report on magnetic properties of single phase GdC2 nanoparticles.•Potential applications in MRI, mammography screening and neutron capture therapy.

Gadolinium dicarbide (GdC2) nanoparticles are synthesized by plasma in the cavitation field of toluene using a facile method. The presence of a single phase of GdC2 nanocrystals have been determined by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The GdC2 nanoparticles have tetragonal crystal structure. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows that the nanoparticles have average size of 30 nm in diameter. Magnetization measurements performed using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer shows GdC2 nanoparticles are paramagnetic in nature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on magnetic properties of GdC2 nanoparticles in single phase form, allowing further characterization of physical properties.