How hollow structures form from crystalline iron–iron oxide core–shell nanoparticles in the electron beam.

Here, we report the effect of oleylamine (OLA) stabilizing molecules on the stability of iron–iron oxide core–shell nanoparticles in the electron beam. The presence of excess OLA (＞50 wt%) induces the structural transformation in the highly crystalline, core–shell structures to form hollow iron oxide nanoparticles after 120 s of electron beam exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]