Selective synthesis of Fe3O4Au x Ag y nanomaterials and their potential applications in catalysis and nanomedicine

Abstract In these recent years, magnetite (Fe3O4) has witnessed a growing interest in the scientific community as a potential material in various fields of application namely in catalysis, biosensing, hyperthermia treatments, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents and drug delivery. Their unique properties such as metal–insulator phase transitions, superconductivity, low Curie temperature, and magnetoresistance make magnetite special and need further investigation. On the other hand, nanoparticles especially gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) exhibit striking features that are not observed in the bulk counterparts. For instance, the mentioned ferromagnetism in Au NPs coated with protective agents such as dodecane thiol, in addition to their aptitude to be used in near-infrared (NIR) light sensitivity and their high adsorptive ability in tumor cell, make them useful in nanomedicine application. Besides, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are known as an antimicrobial agent. Put together, the $${\text{Fe}}_{ 3} {\text{O}}_{ 4} {\text{Au}}_{x} {\text{Ag}}_{y} \left( {\left\{ {x,y} \right\} = \{ 0 , 1\} } \right)$$ Fe 3 O 4 Au x Ag y x , y = { 0 , 1 } nanocomposites with tunable size can therefore display important demanding properties for diverse applications. In this review, we try to examine the new trend of magnetite-based nanomaterial synthesis and their application in catalysis and nanomedicine