In-situ study of nucleation and growth of CoFe2O4 multi-crystalline nanocubes

We propose to perform time-resolved SAXS/WAXS measurements to study the influence of the heating rate on the nucleation and growth mechanism of spinel nanocubes. Heating rate revealed itself as a fundamental controlling parameter for the thermal decomposition method, leading to unconventionally multi-crystalline nanocubes. This structure appeard to be particularly efficient for magnetic hypertermia treatment. By fitting the experimental scattering data, we will obtain information about the size and the shape of the nanocubes during the most critical phase of the synthesis: the nucleation process. Our findings will enhance the understanding of the synthesis of cubic spinel nanoparticles and, ultimately, contribute to the precise control of synthesis for technological and biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles.