The synthesis and properties of bifunctional and intelligent Fe3O4@titanium oxide core/shell nanoparticles.

A simple, one-pot solvothermal method has been demonstrated for the preparation of bifunctional Fe3O4@titanium oxide core/shell nanoparticles. In a typical procedure, tetraalkoxyl titanium Ti(OC4H9)4 and FeCl3 as precursors were added into ethylene glycol and further solvothermal treatment was used to synthesize the core/shell particles. The core/shell particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), SQUID MPMS and rheometry. The morphological results showed titanium oxide nanorods with 100-200 nm length and 10-20 nm diameter coated on the surface of 200-300 nm Fe3O4 submicrospheres. Reaction time, the titanium source, the barium salt etc. have an influence on the morphology of core/shell particles. The core/shell particles can not only respond to an external magnetic field, but also to an electric field--a novel application of electrorheological fluid.