Optimization of Magnetic Inks Made of L1(0)-Ordered FePt Nanoparticles and Polystyrene-block-Poly(ethylene oxide) Copolymers

Langmuir. 2015 Jun 23;31(24):6675-80. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b00942. Epub 2015 Jun 12.

Abstract

The preparation of magnetic inks stable over time made of L10-ordered FePt nanoparticles, thiol-ended poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (mPEO-SH) compatibilizing macromolecules and asymmetric polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers (BCP) as a subsequent self-organizing medium was optimized. It was demonstrated that the use of sacrificial MgO shells as physical barriers during the annealing stage for getting the L10-ordered state makes easier and more efficient the anchoring of compatibilizing PEO macromolecules onto the nanoparticles surface. L10-FePt grafted nanoparticles have shown a good colloidal stability and affinity with the PEO domains of the BCP leading to L10-FePt/BCP composite thin layers with individual magnetic dots dispersed in the BCP matrix.