Magnetic Nanoparticle Chains in Gelatin Ferrogels: Bioinspiration from Magnetotactic Bacteria

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Sebastian Sturm - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Maria Siglreitmeier - , University of Konstanz (Author)
  • Daniel Wolf - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Karin Vogel - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Micha Gratz - , Saarland University (Author)
  • Damien Faivre - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Aix-Marseille Université (Author)
  • Axel Lubk - , CEOS- Endowed Chair of Electron Optics (with IFW), Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Bernd Büchner - , Chair of Experimental Solid State Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Elena V. Sturm - , University of Konstanz (Author)
  • Helmut Cölfen - , University of Konstanz (Author)

Abstract

Inspired by chains of ferrimagnetic nanocrystals (NCs) in magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), the synthesis and detailed characterization of ferrimagnetic magnetite NC chain-like assemblies is reported. An easy green synthesis route in a thermoreversible gelatin hydrogel matrix is used. The structure of these magnetite chains prepared with and without gelatin is characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy, including electron tomography (ET). These structures indeed bear resemblance to the magnetite assemblies found in MTB, known for their mechanical flexibility and outstanding magnetic properties and known to crystallographically align their magnetite NCs along the strongest <111> magnetization easy axis. Using electron holography (EH) and angular dependent magnetic measurements, the magnetic interaction between the NCs and the generation of a magnetically anisotropic material can be shown. The electro- and magnetostatic modeling demonstrates that in order to precisely determine the magnetization (by means of EH) inside chain-like NCs assemblies, their exact shape, arrangement and stray-fields have to be considered (ideally obtained using ET).

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number1905996
JournalAdvanced functional materials
Volume29
Issue number45
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2019
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • bioinspiration, electron holography, electron tomography, gelatin, magnetite