Magnetic Gold Film Fabrication from MPTES-functionlized Magnetite Nanoparticles

Using a nanoscale buiding block to fabricate macroscopic sensing material is a popular challenge either from a fundamental research standpoint or from an applied perspective. In this paper we report a novel aqueous preparation of gold-supported composite films from nanoscale MPTES-functionalized magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles (NPs) under aqueous excessive aureate reduction. The composite films are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry. The films demonstrate a morphology of high specific surface area due to it close-packed magnetite nanoparticles on the reduced gold substrate, and their saturation magnetization is 12.3 emu·g^-1. These magnetic gold films with composite structure provide properties combination and possible new functions such as gas sensing or catalytic purposes.