Synthesis, magnetic properties and enhanced photoluminescence of Fe3O4-ZnO heterostructure multifunctional nanoparticles

Abstract

Abstract. In this paper, Fe₃O₄-ZnO heterostructure multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully prepared in aqueous solution by ultrasound assisted thermolysis. First, iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) magnetic NPs were prepared by co-precipitation method. The Fe₃O₄ NPs were modified by 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to have free amine (-NH₂) groups on their surface, then, Zn²⁺ ions were added and stirred to adsorb onto the surface of Fe₃O₄-NH₂ NPs in alkaline solution at a pH of 11. This solution was decomposed through thermolysis in ultrasound bath. The results of measurements show that photoluminescence of Fe₃O₄-ZnO heterostructure multifunctional NPs was enhanced in visible light at 565 nm wavelength to allow detection, labeling, diagnosis, and therapy in biomedicine. Moreover, they exhibit superparamagnetic properties of Fe₃O₄ with high saturation magnetization (M_S), which can be used for seperation application in biomedicine under an external magnetic field.

Keywords. Fe₃O₄-ZnO, multifunctional nanoparticles, heterostructure, enhanced photoluminescence