Creating and protecting magnetic nanomaterials
Coated nanofibers and methods for forming the same. A magnetic nanofiber is formed and a barrier coating is deposited on the magnetic nanofiber by atomic layer deposition (“ALD”) process. The coated nanofiber may include a reduced magnetic nanostructure and a barrier coating comprising a first oxide coating on the nanofiber, the coating being non-reactive with the magnetic polymer nanofiber, the barrier coating have a thickness of 2 nm to 12 nm.
1. A method of forming a coated nanofiber, comprising:
forming a magnetic nanofiber by:
forming a solution with metal salts and a polymer, and
electrospinning the solution to form a magnetic nanofiber;
reducing the magnetic nanofiber prior to depositing the first material on the magnetic nanofiber;
placing the magnetic nanofiber in a reactor; and
after reducing, depositing a barrier coating on the magnetic nanofiber by atomic layer deposition (“ALD”) process including at least one cycle of:
pulsing a first metal precursor for a first metal precursor pulse time,
exposing a base material of the magnetic nanofiber to the first metal precursor for a first metal precursor exposure time and at a first partial pressure, the first metal precursor binding with the base material,
purging the reactor of the first metal precursor,
pulsing a co-reactant precursor into the reactor for a first co-reactant pulse time;
exposing the base material to the co-reactant precursor for a co-reactant precursor exposure time and at a second partial pressure, and
purging the reactor of the co-reactant precursor.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reduction is performed within the reactor vessel.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the barrier coating is a magnetic coating.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the barrier coating is a non-magnetic coating.
5. A method of forming a coated nanofiber, comprising:
forming a magnetic nanofiber by:
forming a solution with metal salts and a polymer, and
electrospinning the solution to form a magnetic nanofiber; and
reducing the magnetic nanofiber prior to depositing the first material on the magnetic nanofiber;
depositing a barrier coating on the magnetic nanofiber by atomic layer deposition (“ALD”) process including at least one cycle of:
pulsing a first metal precursor into the reactor for a first metal precursor pulse time,
exposing the magnetic nanofiber to the first metal precursor for a first metal precursor exposure time and at a first partial pressure, binding with the magnetic nanofiber,
purging the reactor of the first metal precursor,
pulsing a co-reactant precursor into the reactor for a first co-reactant pulse time,
exposing the magnetic nanofiber to the co-reactant precursor for a co-reactant precursor exposure time and at a second partial pressure, and
purging the reactor of the co-reactant precursor.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the barrier coating is a magnetic coating.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the barrier coating is a magnetic coating.