Magnetic and nonmagnetic nanoparticles from a group of uniform materials based on organic salts.

The size and uniformity of magnetic nanoparticles developed from a group of uniform materials based on organic salts (GUMBOS) were controlled using an in situ ion exchange, water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsion preparation. Most of these nanoGUMBOS are in fact ionic liquids (i.e., melting points less than 100 degrees C), while others have melting points above the conventional 100 degrees C demarcation. Simple variations in the reagent concentrations following a w/o approach allowed us to smoothly and predictably vary nanoparticle dimensions across a significant size regime with excellent uniformity. Average sizes of GUMBOS particles ranging from 14 to 198 nm were achieved by manipulation of the reagent concentration, for example. Controllable formation of this new breed of nanoparticles is important for numerous potential applications and will open up interesting new opportunities in drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging, and protein separations, among other areas.