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Simple, fast, large-scale, and cost-effective preparation of uniform controlled magnetic nanoparticles remains a major hurdle on the way towards magnetically targeted applications at realistic technical conditions. Herein, we present a unique one-pot approach that relies on simple basic hydrolyticin situcoprecipitation of inexpensive metal salts (Fe2+and Fe3+) compartmentalized by stabilizing fatty acids and aided by the presence of alkylamines. The synthesis was performed at relatively low temperatures (~80°C) without the use of high-boiling point solvents and elevated temperatures. This method allowed for the production of ultra-small, colloidal, and hydrophobically stabilized magnetite metal oxide nanoparticles readily dispersed in organic solvents. The results reveal that the obtained magnetite nanoparticles exhibit narrow size distributions, good monodispersities, high saturation magnetizations, and excellent colloidal stabilities. When the [fatty acid] : [Fe] ratio was varied, control over nanoparticle diameters within the range of 2–10 nm was achieved. The amount of fatty acid and alkylamine used during the reaction proved critical in governing morphology, dispersity, uniformity, and colloidal stability. Upon exchange with water-soluble polymers, the ultra-small sized particles become biologically relevant, with great promise for theranostic applications as imaging and magnetically targeted delivery vehicles.

C-doped ZnO with a large surface area was prepared via F127-assisted pyrolysis at 500 °C and used for visible-light-responsive photocatalytic water purification. The band structure of the C-doped ZnO was investigated using valance band XPS and DFT simulation. The C-doped ZnO possessed enhanced absorption of UV and visible light, though it showed lower visible-light-responsive photocatalytic activity than ZnO because of significant recombination of photogenerated charge carriers arising from overloaded C-dopant and oxygen vacancies.