Synthesis of core-shell hematite (α-Fe 2 O 3 ) nanoplates: Quantitative analysis of the particle structure and shape, high coercivity and low cytotoxicity

Hematite core-shell nanoparticles with plate-like morphology were synthesized using a one-step hydrothermal synthesis. An XRPD analysis indicates that the sample consist of single-phase alpha-Fe2O3 nanoparticles. SEM and TEM measurements show that the hematite sample is composed of uniform core-shell nanoplates with 10-20 nm thickness, 80-100 nm landscape dimensions (aspect ratio 5) and 3-4 nm thickness of the surface shells. We used computational methods for the quantitative analysis of the core-shell particle structure and circularity shape descriptor for the quantitative shape analysis of the nanoparticles from TEM micrographs. The calculated results indicated that a percentage of the shell area in the nanoparticle area (share [%]) is significant. The determined values of circularity in the perpendicular and oblique perspective clearly show shape anisotropy of the nanoplates. The magnetic properties revealed the ferromagnetic-like properties at room temperature with high coercivity H-C = 2340 Oe, pointing to the shape and surface effects. These results signify core-shell hematite nanoparticles' for practical applications in magnetic devices. The synthesized hematite plate-like nanoparticles exhibit low cytotoxicity levels on the human lung fibroblasts (MRC5) cell line demonstrating the safe use of these nanoparticles for biomedical applications.This is the peer-reviewed version of the following article: Tadic, M.; Kopanja, L.; Panjan, M.; Kralj, S.; Nikodinovic-Runic, J.; Stojanovic, Z. Synthesis of Core-Shell Hematite (α-Fe 2 O 3 ) Nanoplates: Quantitative Analysis of the Particle Structure and Shape, High Coercivity and Low Cytotoxicity. Applied Surface Science 2017, 403, 628–634. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.01.115]Related to published version: [https://imagine.imgge.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1049