Microemulsions as tunable nanomagnets

Abstract

Magnetic microemulsions comprising of magnetic surfactants exhibit monodomain magnetic behaviour intermediate between magnetic nanoparticles and molecular magnets. Importantly, due to partitioning of surfactant molecules at the water–oil interface only surface anisotropy is observed. These new systems allow for in situ tunability through composition and the solubilization of hydrophobic additives.