Most recent developments in electrospun magnetic nanofibers: A review

One-dimensional materials, such as nanowires, nanotubes, or nanofibers, have attracted more and more attention recently due to their unique physical properties. Their large length-to-diameter ratio creates anisotropic material properties which could not be reached in bulk material. Especially one-dimensional magnetic structures are of high interest since the strong shape anisotropy reveals new magnetization reversal modes and possible applications. One possibility to create magnetic nanofibers in a relatively simple way is offered by electrospinning them from polymer solutions or melts with incorporated magnetic nanoparticles. This review gives an overview of most recent methods of electrospinning magnetic nanofibers, measuring their properties as well as possible applications from basic research to single-cell manipulation to microwave absorption.