Preparation and microscopic characterization of magnetite-gold mesoparticles with tunable morphology

Abstract

Composite magnetite–gold mesoscopic particles were prepared by deposition of Au onto magnetite nanoparticles. The surface morphology of the mesoparticles could be tuned by controlling the factors that affect the kinetics of the reactions and by adding surfactants that direct the growth of gold crystals. The internal structure of composite mesoparticles was analyzed by focused ion beam and scanning electron microscopy. A particle-mediated growth mechanism of formation was proposed.