One-Pot Reaction and Subsequent Annealing to Synthesis Hollow Spherical Magnetite and Maghemite Nanocages

Abstract

Abstract Water-soluble hollow spherical magnetite (Fe3O4) nanocages (ca. 100 nm) with high saturation magnetization are prepared in a one-pot reaction by sol-gel method and subsequent annealing to synthesise the maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanocages with similar nanostructures. The nanocages have been investigated by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The results indicated that glutamic acid played an important role in the formation of the cage-like nanostructures.