Tuning Carbon Content and Morphology of FeCo/Graphitic Carbon CoreShell Nanoparticles using a SaltMatrixAssisted CVD Process

Among various magnetic nanoparticles that have been studied for potential biomedical applications, FeCo nanoparticles are promising candidates because of their high saturation magnetization and high Curie temperature. [ 3–5 ] However, the ease of oxidation, dissolution in acidic environments, and potential toxicity of these materials in their native state restrict their use in biomedical applications. [ 3,6,7 ] A graphitic surface coating not only would address each of these issues, thereby rendering them biocompatible and improving their thermal stability but also would act as a powerful link to covalently attach organic molecules (i.e., drugs) to the magnetic cores. [ 3,6–10 ] FeCo/graphitic carbon (FeCo/GC) core–shell nanoparticles have been suggested as a promising material for multipurpose diagnosis and therapeutic applications such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), near-infrared (NIR) photothermal therapy, and drug delivery [ 11 ]