Apparatus and method related to core-shell magnetic nanoparticles and structured nanoparticles

Abstract

One aspect of the invention requires an apparatus for forming core-shell magnetic nanoparticles comprising: a magnetic nanoparticle source operable to generate a beam of nanoparticles; at least one shell material source comprising a bore through which the beam of nanoparticles may pass; and at least one controllable magnetic field generator, operable to generate a magnetic field which at least partially surrounds the at least one shell material source, wherein nanoparticles may be received at one end of the shell material source and the movement of the nanoparticles within the bore may be controlled by the controllable magnetic field to be coated by the shell material to specified dimensions, and nanoparticles may leave the other end of the shell material source. Another aspect of the in invention is a method of manufacturing core-shell magnetic nanoparticles, wherein: a beam of magnetic nanoparticles is generated by the nanoparticles source (34); and at least one vapour of at least one shell material is generated by at least one shell material source (36, 38, 50), wherein the at least one vapour of at least one shell material is located within the field generated by a controllable magnetic field generator (80); wherein the beam of nanoparticles enter the vapour of at least one shell material source (36, 38, 50) and the movement of the magnetic nanoparticles is controlled to coat the nanoparticles with the at least one shell material to specified dimensions and subsequently the coated nanoparticles are directed from the at least one shell material source to exit the at least one shell material source.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for forming structured nanoparticles, comprising:
 a magnetic nanoparticle source operable to generate a beam of magnetic nanoparticles; and   at least one controllable magnetic field generator operable to generate a magnetic field through which the beam of magnetic nanoparticles pass;   whereby magnetic nanoparticles within the beam of magnetic nanoparticles passing through the controllable magnetic field are arranged into structured nanoparticles.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 at least one shell material source comprising a bore through which the beam of magnetic nanoparticles pass to coat the structured nanoparticles.   
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing structured nanoparticles, comprising:
 generating a beam of magnetic nanoparticles from a source of magnetic nanoparticles source;   passing the generated magnetic nanoparticles through a magnetic field generated by a controllable magnetic field generator;   wherein magnetic nanoparticles within the beam of magnetic nanoparticles passing through the magnetic field build structured nanoparticles.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 depositing the structured nanoparticles on a substrate.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 collating the structured nanoparticles in a solution.   
     
     
         23 . A core-shell magnetic nanoparticle structure, comprising:
 a nanoparticle having a magnetic core; and   at least one shell layer around the magnetic core having a thickness between 0.2 nm and 4 nm, wherein the at least one shell layer provides a coating of at least a 90% of the magnetic core.   
     
     
         24 . The core-shell magnetic nanoparticle structure of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one shell layer completely coats the magnetic core. 
     
     
         25 . The core-shell magnetic nanoparticle structure of  claim 23 , wherein an average of the coating of the magnetic core of the nanoparticles within a group of at least 100 of the nanoparticles is at least 90%. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled)