A quick and easy synthesis of fluorescent iron oxide nanoparticles featuring a luminescent carbonaceous coating via in situ pyrolysis of organosilane ligands

Abstract

We report a simple, two-step method for making magnetic, photoluminescent iron oxide (magnetite) core/carbonaceous shell nanoparticles emitting blue light. The core–shell nanoparticles are created by an aqueous synthesis and functionalized in situ with three different organosilanes. Pyrolysis of the organosilane ligand shell at 200 °C yields water-dispersible core–shell particles visibly fluorescing under UV light.