Formation mechanism of dysprosium-doped manganese carbonate nanoparticles by thermal decomposition

Abstract

Herein, dysprosium-doped manganese carbonate nanoparticles (Dy-doped MnCO₃ NPs) were synthesized by thermal decomposition of Mn–oleate in the presence of Dy–oleate. The evolutional formation of MnCO₃ NPs was evidenced by the TEM, Raman and XRD. The formation mechanism of Dy-doped MnCO₃ NPs was studied for the first time by thermogravimetric-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. It was revealed that part of CO₂ and H₂O produced during the thermal decomposition could be retained by the Dy, which is responsible for the formation of Dy-doped MnCO₃ NPs. Additionally, the potential of Dy-doped MnCO₃ NPs as an efficient magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent was demonstrated in a brain glioma-bearing mice model.