The synthesis of amine-capped magnetic (Fe, Mn, Co, Ni) oxide nanocrystals and their surface modification for aqueous dispersibility

Nano-dimensional single-crystals of Fe, Mn, Co or Ni oxides have been prepared by the decomposition of their metal acetylacetonate at elevated temperatures in hexadecylamine. The amine acts as both a solvent and the capping agent. The crystalline structure and morphology of resulting samples have been characterized by TEM, HRTEM, SAED and XRD. The nanocrystals can be dispersed in aqueous solution by overcoating the surface with amphiphilic polyelectrolytes.