Preparation of Barium-Hexaferrite/Gold Janus Nanoplatelets Using the Pickering Emulsion Method

Janus particles, which have two surfaces exhibiting different properties, are promising candidates for various applications. For example, magneto-optic Janus particles could be used for in-vivo cancer imaging, drug delivery, and photothermal therapy. The preparation of such materials on a relatively large scale is challenging, especially if the Janus structure consists of a hard magnetic material like barium hexaferrite nanoplatelets. The focus of this study was to adopt the known Pickering emulsion, i.e., Granick's method, for the preparation of barium-hexaferrite/gold Janus nanoplatelets. The wax-in-water Pickering emulsions were stabilized with a combination of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide and barium hexaferrite nanoplatelets at 80 °C. Colloidosomes of solidified wax covered with the barium hexaferrite nanoplatelets formed after cooling the Pickering emulsions to room temperature. The formation and microstructure of the colloidosomes were thoroughly studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The process was optimized by various processing parameters, such as the composition of the emulsion system and the speed and time of emulsification. The colloidosomes with the highest surface coverage were used to prepare the Janus nanoplatelets by decorating the exposed surfaces of the barium hexaferrite nanoplatelets with gold nanospheres using mercaptan chemistry. Transmission electron microscopy was used to inspect the barium-hexaferrite/gold Janus nanoplatelets that were prepared for the first time.