Modified Kirkendall effect for fabrication of magnetic nanotubes.

In this paper, we successfully synthesize Fe(OH)(3) nanotubes involving the Kirkendall effect. Depending on the calcination conditions, both haematite and magnetite nanotubes are produced. This approach also provides a new synthetic alternative to nanotubes of nonlamellar-structured materials. The as-synthesized magnetite nanotubes have an application as a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent.