Session: Nanomaterials:

Ferrofluid currently has a variety of applications but is not as selective when it comes to imaging. This is interest for applications like MRI or bioimaging. Addition of a photosensitive compound could induce a magnetic affect while under excitation by electromagnetic radiation. This research aims to synthesis and characterize FeCo nanoparticles with a photochromic dye attached. The goal is to have a fluorescent nanoparticle that is both stable and photomagnetic. In this research, photomagnetic means a particle that can change magnetic properties in the presence of electromagnetic radiation.
To test the hypothesis that stable photomagnetic particles could be synthesized, a decomposition reaction of ironpentacarbonyl and dicobaltoctacarbonyl was performed to form FeCo nanoparticles then a dye loading step was performed to create the completed FeCo-dye complex. This was then characterized using fluorescence and UV-vis spectrometer along with an estimate of magnetization. The results show that there is a fluorescent nanoparticle being produced from the experiment that does retain some magnetic properties. More characterization still needs to be performed.
In conclusion there is potential for these FeCo nanoparticles to exhibit fluorescence when bound to a photochromic dye. While this does look promising there still needs to be more work done to characterize the nanoparticles and their properties.

Mary Devadas

Towson University

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