Strategies to tailor the architecture of dual Ag/Fe-oxide nano-heterocrystals—interfacial and morphology effects on the magnetic behavior

Bifunctional nanostructured architectures have shown appealing properties, since a single entity can combine the diverse properties of its individual constituents. Particularly, by growing Fe-oxide domains over Ag nanoparticles, the plasmonic and superparamagnetic properties can be combined in a single particle. Beyond the multifunctionality of this system, there are several properties that emerge from intrinsic factors, such as: interface and/or morphology. In this study, we present the synthesis protocols to obtain two sets of heterocrystals, each one with different morphology: dimer and flower-like. In addition, the magnetization behavior of these hybrid nano-heterocrystals is investigated and discussed. These nanomaterials were built by a seed assisted heterogeneous nucleation process, carried out in organic solvents of high boiling point, using the same batch of silver nanoparticles with a mean size of 6nm as seeds, and tuning the electron-donor capacity of the reaction environment at the thermal decomposition of the iron precursor. Ag/Fe3O4 heterocrystals with dimer and flower-like morphologies were obtained. The synthesis protocols for generating these types of nanomaterials are discussed step-by-step. Structural and morphological properties were determined by transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and x-ray absorption fine structure. DC magnetization results suggest that the silver/magnetite coupling generates an increase of the blocking temperature in comparison to those obtained from pure magnetite. This behavior could be linked to a possible increase in the magnetic anisotropy produced by an additional disorder at the Ag-Fe3O4 interface. The higher interface area of the Ag/Fe3O4 heterocrystals with flower-like architecture leads to a higher blocking temperature and a stronger magnetic anisotropy. These results are supported by AC susceptibility data.