Supporting Materials
Modified reverse microemulsion synthesis for iron oxide/silica
core-shell colloidal particles
Yuan Zhu a, *, F. Y. Jiang b, d, Kexin Chen c, Feiyu Kang c, Z. K. Tang a, b,*
Contents:
Reaction conditions and resulting sizes for iron oxide particles, p. S-2
TEM images of resulting iron oxide particles, p. S-2
TEM images of resulting particles using RM method modified by iso-propanol, p. S-3
Enlarged image of Fig. 1b or Fig. S2, p. S-4
TEM images of resulting particles using RM method modified by n-propanol, p. S-5
TEM images of resulting particles using RM method modified by n-butanol, p. S-6
TEM morphology of core-shell particles obtained using RM method modified by
TWEEN 20 / SPAN 80 pair with increased IO addition, p. S-7
S-1
Table S1. Reaction conditions and resulting sizes for iron oxide particles
#
Octyl
Fe(CO)5
Oleic
Molar ratio of
Concentration
Pre-reflux
Resulting
Ether
(mmol)
acid
oleic acid to
of oleic acid
time
particle
(mmol)
Fe(CO)5), R
（mmol/mL）
(h)
size (nm)
(mL）
1
10
1.84
7
3.8
0.7
2
7
2
10
1.84
7
3.8
0.7
4
10
3
10
3.07
12.25
4.0
1.23
1.5
15
4
9
2.3
10.5
4.6
1.17
3
22
Fig. S1. TEM images of monodisperse iron oxide nanocrystals: (a) 7 nm; (b) 10 nm; (c) 15 nm;
(d) 22 nm.
S-2
Fig. S2. TEM images of resulting particles or flocculation using RM method modified by
iso-propanol. (a) and (b) 0.2 mL iso-propanol added; (c) and (d) 0.4 mL iso-propanol added. The
small iron oxide cores inside the silica are hardly visible due to the thick shell.
S-3
Fig. S3. Enlarged image of Fig. 1b or Fig. S2. The cores in particles pointed by arrows are visible.
Also depends on the monitor quality.
S-4
Fig. S4. TEM images of resulting particles using RM method modified by n-propanol. (a) 0.1 mL
added; (b) 0.2 mL added; (c) 0.3 mL added. Its effect on enlarging particle size is obvious.
The particle size increases with its amount increase. Ignoring the flocculation blocks
and hardly visible cores, the particle size shown in Fig. S2b (0.2 mL n-propanol added)
and Fig. S2c (0.3 mL n-propanol added) is near 100 nm.
S-5
Fig. S5. TEM images of resulting particles using RM method modified by n-butanol. (a) 0.1 mL
added; (b) 0.2 mL added.
S-6
Fig. S6. TEM morphology of core-shell particles obtained using RM method modified by
TWEEN 20 / SPAN 80 pair with increased IO addition: (a) 4 mL; (b) 3 mL; (c) 2 mL. The
over-thick shells shelter the cores so well that some of the iron oxide particles are
hardly visible even after magnetic segregation.
S-7