Access

Letter

Nature Materials 5, 971–976 (1 December 2006) | doi:10.1038/nmat1775

FeCo/graphitic-shell nanocrystals as advanced magnetic-resonance-imaging and near-infrared agents

Won Seok Seo , Jin Hyung Lee , Xiaoming Sun , Yoriyasu Suzuki , David Mann , Zhuang Liu , Masahiro Terashima , Philip C. Yang , Michael V. McConnell , Dwight G. Nishimura & Hongjie Dai

Nanocrystals with advanced magnetic or optical properties have been actively pursued for potential biological applications, including integrated imaging, diagnosis and therapy. Among various magnetic nanocrystals, FeCo has superior magnetic properties, but it has yet to be explored owing to the problems of easy oxidation and potential toxicity.