Preparation of functionalized and gold-coated cobalt nanocrystals for biomedical applications

We present the synthesis, structural and magnetic characterization of cobalt-based nanocrystals with controlled size (5-25 nm; +/- 1 nm) and tailored morphologies (spheres, discs with specific aspect ratio of 5 x 20 nm and core-shell structures). The reproducible synthesis route for Au-coated, high moment, cobalt nanocrystals presented here opens up possibilities for a number of biomedical applications and surface functionalities. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.