Abstract

Homogenous silica-coated CoFe_2O_4 samples with controlled silica thickness were synthesized by the reverse microemulsion method. First, 7 nm size cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were prepared by thermal decomposition methods. Hydrophobic cobalt ferrites were coated with controlled SiO_2 using polyoxyethylene(5)nonylphenylether (Igepal) as a surfactant, NH_4OH and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). The well controlled thickness of the silica shell was found to depend on the reaction time and the amount of surfactant used during production. Thick shell was prepared by increasing reaction time and small amount of surfactant.

• Keywords: Magnetic materials;Nanomaterials;Silica coating;Micro emulsion method;