Apparatus and method related to core-shell magnetic nanoparticles and structured nanoparticles

Abstract

One aspect of the invention requires an apparatus for forming core-shell magnetic nanoparticles comprising: a magnetic nanoparticle source operable to generate a beam of nanoparticles; at least one shell material source comprising a bore through which the beam of nanoparticles may pass; and at least one controllable magnetic field generator, operable to generate a magnetic field which at least partially surrounds the at least one shell material source, wherein nanoparticles may be received at one end of the shell material source and the movement of the nanoparticles within the bore may be controlled by the controllable magnetic field to be coated by the shell material to specified dimensions, and nanoparticles may leave the other end of the shell material source. Another aspect of the in invention is a method of manufacturing core-shell magnetic nanoparticles, wherein: a beam of magnetic nanoparticles is generated by the nanoparticles source (34); and at least one vapour of at least one shell material is generated by at least one shell material source (36, 38, 50), wherein the at least one vapour of at least one shell material is located within the field generated by a controllable magnetic field generator (80); wherein the beam of nanoparticles enter the vapour of at least one shell material source (36, 38, 50) and the movement of the magnetic nanoparticles is controlled to coat the nanoparticles with the at least one shell material to specified dimensions and subsequently the coated nanoparticles are directed from the at least one shell material source to exit the at least one shell material source.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to the production of coated nanoparticles for deposition on a substrate. In particular, the invention is related to controlling the coating process and more precisely controlling the dimensions of the coat layer or layers. The material may be used in a variety of applications.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0002]Magnetic materials find widespread use in modern technology. Particularly, they are to be found in nearly all electro-mechanical apparatus. The performance of magnetic materials in respect of their secondary parameters, such as coercivity and energy product, has improved greatly over the last century.[0003]As shown in FIG. 1 a magnetic structure 10 may be formed by co-deposition on a substrate 12 of Fe nanoparticles 14 from a cluster source 16 and of Co matrix material 18 from a Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) source 20. Co-deposition of Fe nanoparticles and Co matrix material results in a structure in which Fe nanoparticles...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is about a method and apparatus for making core-shell magnetic nanoparticles, which can be used in various applications such as hard disk drives, medical applications, and cosmetics. These nanoparticles have a core and a shell layer with a specific thickness and can be coated with different materials. The invention uses a controllable magnetic field to control the movement and coating of nanoparticles, resulting in improved control over the nanoparticle structure. This allows for the formation of structured nanoparticles with specific dimensions and shapes.

Problems solved by technology

It will be apparent that while some of the parameters of the film deposition process may be controlled and varied, control over the shell layer dimensions is relatively coarse and limited.

It is difficult to control the shell layer or coating with much precision.

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