Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic–Luminescent Fe3O4–CdSe Core–Shell Nanocrystals

Nanostructures organized in unordinary spatial arrangements with multiple components such as core–shell configurations endow structures, material properties and functions that differ from the individual bulk components. In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of bifunctional magnetic–luminescent Fe3O4–CdSe core–shell nanocrystals with core diameter and shell thickness of 10 and 2 nm, respectively, by controlled sequential reactions. The nanocrystals exhibit well-defined superparamagnetic behavior with high susceptibility at RT. Moreover, the fluorescent measurements demonstrate two major kinds of emission peaks, one at 572 nm originating from the bandgap excitons and the other at 680 nm being surface-associated. These core–shell nanocrystals, coupling the optical sensing element with the magnetic actuator in a peculiar nanostructure are thereby prospected for fundamental study and various applications where multifunctionality is required.