Ultrafast microwave-assisted synthesis of MCNCs with high saturation magnetization and sustained aqueous stability

A facile and green microwave route was developed to ultra-quickly synthesize magnetite colloidal nanocrystal clusters (MCNCs) by reducing iron(III) chloride with ethylene glycol within 10 min at 150 degrees C. The obtained uniform MCNCs exhibited excellent crystallinity, saturation magnetization and sustained aqueous stability upon addition of stabilizers.