Determination of the surface temperature of magnetically heated nanoparticles using a catalytic approach

Herein we describe a new method for the determination of the surface temperature of magnetically heated nanoparticles in solution using the temperature dependency of the catalytic performances of iron carbide nanoparticles coated with ruthenium (Fe 2.2 C@Ru) for acetophenone hydrodeoxygenation. A correlation between nanoparticle surface temperature and magnetic field could be established. Very high surface temperatures could be estimated in different solvents, which were also found similar at a given magnetic field and well above some solvent boiling points. The surface temperature on catalytically active magnetic nanoparticles (Fe 2.2 C@Ru) was estimated from their catalytic performances under magnetic induction. In different solvents, surface temperatures well-above the boiling point were determined.