Solution self-assembly of magnetic light modulators from exfoliated perovskite and magnetite nanoparticles.

Covalent linkage of oleic acid ligated Fe3O4 spheres (9 nm) with sheetlike [H1-xCa2Nb3O10] particles (300 x 300 x 2 nm) yields, depending on conditions, submicro- or microscale stacks, which on their surfaces are decorated with magnetite nanoparticles. Due to the optical anisotropy of the sheetlike Ca2Nb3O10 building blocks and due to the superparamagnetic nature of the Fe3O4 components, the nanostructured composites exhibit magnetically controllable birefringence and light-scattering properties in solution.