Size control and characterization of wustite (core)/spinel (shell) nanocubes obtained by decomposition of iron oleate complex

Abstract Monodisperse wustite (core)/spinel (shell) nanocubes with controllable size from 9 to 22 nm were synthesized by the decomposition of iron oleate complex at high temperature. The composition of the nanocubes was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and magnetic analysis, meanwhile the distributions of wustite and spinel phases within the nanocubes were directly observed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy using the dark-field image technique. The core/shell structure is quite unique, in which spinel phase is distributed not only preferentially on the surface, but also in the interior, while almost all of the wustite phase is located in the core of the nanocubes. The formation of wustite is inherent in the decomposition of the iron oleate complex, as indirectly inferred through the detection of a huge quantity of carbon monoxide generated from the reactor.