Synthesis of magnetosome chain-like structures.

Magnetite chains with a number of magnetite particles arranged in a line parallel to the outer amorphous carbon coating have been prepared. The sizes of the nanoparticles range from 40 to 120 nm, with nearly identical gaps between every two adjacent particles. The synthesized chains display ferromagnetic properties with several single-magnetic-domain (SD) nanoparticles assembled in an orderly fashion. Based on the formation process of chains in our reaction system, it is suggested that the localized environments favor the growth of SD nanoparticles, and the strong magnetic dipolar-dipolar interactions lead to the self-assembly of SD nanoparticles. This research could offer some useful information in studying the formation mechanism of magnetosome chains and the origin of the special chain-like nanostructures in magnetotactic bacteria.