Magnetic nanowires generated via the waterborne desalting transition pathway

TL;DR

This paper introduces a waterborne method to synthesize magnetic nanowires using electrostatic desalting transition, enabling controlled assembly of nanoparticles into versatile, charged nanowires with potential for multifunctional material design.

Contribution

The study presents a novel, simple waterborne synthesis technique for magnetic nanowires based on electrostatic desalting transition, demonstrating its general applicability and versatility.

Findings

Nanowires have diameters around 200 nm and lengths from 1 μm to 0.5 mm.

The synthesis method is independent of the macromolecular building blocks.

Produced nanowires exhibit either positive or negative surface charges.

Abstract

We report a simple and versatile waterborne synthesis of magnetic nanowires following the innovative concept of electrostatic "desalting transition". Highly persistent superparamagnetic nanowires are generated from the controlled assembly of oppositely charged nanoparticles and commercially available polyelectrolytes. The wires have diameters around 200 nm and lengths comprised between 1 {\mu}m and 1/2 mm, with either positive or negative charges on their surface. Beyond, we show that this soft-chemistry assembly approach is a general phenomenon independent of the feature of the macromolecular building blocks, opening significant perspectives for the design of multifunctional materials.