Engineered magnetic core-shell SiO2/Fe microspheres and "medusa-like" microspheres of SiO2/iron oxide/carbon nanofibers or nanotubes.

Iron oxide (IO) thin coatings of controlled thickness on SiO2 microspheres of narrow size distribution were prepared by decomposition at 160 °C of triiron dodecacarbonyl onto silica microspheres dispersed in diethylene glycol diethyl ether free of surfactant or stabilizer. The dried washed SiO2/IO core-shell microspheres were annealed at different temperatures and time periods under inert (Ar) or reducing (H2) atmosphere. The effect of temperature on the chemical composition, morphology, crystallinity, and magnetic properties of the IO and the elemental Fe nanoparticles type coatings onto the SiO2 core microspheres has been elucidated. "Medusa-like" SiO2/IO/carbon nanofibers and tubes particles were prepared by CVD of ethylene on the surface of the SiO2/IO microspheres at different temperatures. The morphology change of the grafted carbon nanofibers and tubes as a function of the CVD temperature was also elucidated.