Physicochemical Studies of Complex Silver–Magnetite Nanoheterodimers with Controlled Morphology

This work discusses the influence of synthesis conditions on self-assembly capability and morphology of obtained Ag–Fe3O4 nanoheterostructures. Samples were synthesized in two steps: first silver nanoparticles were synthesized and then used as seeds for the growth of iron oxide nanoparticles in a second step. The silver nanoparticle size was tuned, changing the oleylamine (OAm) and oleic acid (OA) ratio, which enables us to study the influence of chemical agents and seed size on the final magnetic nanoparticle morphology. The mechanism during the formation of these heterostructures has been discussed by several authors; however, it remains an open issue. In this paper we extend the discussion and advance on the understanding of synthesis conditions, related to silver sizes, chemical agents, and physical properties on the obtained nanoparticles. In our Ag–Fe3O4 system, two types of heterostructures were obtained: dimer, flower, or combination of the two. We have found that the final shape depends on silver seed size, as well as the polarity of the chemical agents used during the synthesis. We made an exhaustive study of the relationship between magnetic properties and structural features. The morphology and size distributions of the heterostructures were analyzed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM).