biostudies-literatureHong YKorea Basic Science InstituteNational Research Foundation of Korea1089-1097https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9077014biostudies-literatureUnknown8(2)Highly stable and magnetically separable mesoporous silica nanospheres (MSNs) embedded with 4.6 ± 0.8 nm FeCo/graphitic carbon shell nanocrystals (FeCo/GC NCs@MSNs) were synthesized by thermal decomposition of metal precursors in MSNs and subsequent methane CVD. The FeCo/GC NCs@MSNs had a high specific surface area (442 m² g^-1), large pore volume (0.65 cm³ g^-1), and tunable size (65 nm, 130 nm, and 270 nm). Despite the low magnetic metal content (8.35 wt%), the FeCo/GC NCs@MSNs had a sufficiently high saturation magnetization (17.1 emu g^-1). This is due to the superior magnetic properties of the FeCo/GC NCs, which also enable fast magnetic separation of the nanospheres. The graphitic carbon shell on the FeCo NCs not only protects the alloy core against oxidation and acid etching in 35% HCl_(aq), but also facilitates non-covalent, hydrophobic interactions with the hydrocarbon chains of organic dyes such as methyl orange and methylene blue. Surface functionalization of the FeCo/GC NCs@MSNs with thiol groups provides efficient capacity for binding with Hg²⁺ ions. We have shown that the thiol-functionalized FeCo/GC NCs@MSNs (FeCo/GC NCs@MSNs-SH) work as multifunctional adsorbents for organic dyes (target organic pollutants) and Hg²⁺ ions (target inorganic pollutant). We also demonstrated that the FeCo/GC NCs@MSNs-SH are excellent recyclable adsorbents for methyl orange.RSC advancesHighly stable mesoporous silica nanospheres embedded with FeCo/graphitic shell nanocrystals as magnetically recyclable multifunctional adsorbents for wastewater treatment.PMC9077014D37614NRF-2017R1D1A1B03031892NRF-2017R1E1A1A01074224Kim DJHong YNam KMSeo WSChoi IAPal MLee GfalseHighly stable mesoporous silica nanospheres embedded with FeCo/graphitic shell nanocrystals as magnetically recyclable multifunctional adsorbents for wastewater treatment.Highly stable and magnetically separable mesoporous silica nanospheres (MSNs) embedded with 4.6 ± 0.8 nm FeCo/graphitic carbon shell nanocrystals (FeCo/GC NCs@MSNs) were synthesized by thermal decomposition of metal precursors in MSNs and subsequent methane CVD. The FeCo/GC NCs@MSNs had a high specific surface area (442 m² g^-1), large pore volume (0.65 cm³ g^-1), and tunable size (65 nm, 130 nm, and 270 nm). Despite the low magnetic metal content (8.35 wt%), the FeCo/GC NCs@MSNs had a sufficiently high saturation magnetization (17.1 emu g^-1). This is due to the superior magnetic properties of the FeCo/GC NCs, which also enable fast magnetic separation of the nanospheres. The graphitic carbon shell on the FeCo NCs not only protects the alloy core against oxidation and acid etching in 35% HCl_(aq), but also facilitates non-covalent, hydrophobic interactions with the hydrocarbon chains of organic dyes such as methyl orange and methylene blue. Surface functionalization of the FeCo/GC NCs@MSNs with thiol groups provides efficient capacity for binding with Hg²⁺ ions. We have shown that the thiol-functionalized FeCo/GC NCs@MSNs (FeCo/GC NCs@MSNs-SH) work as multifunctional adsorbents for organic dyes (target organic pollutants) and Hg²⁺ ions (target inorganic pollutant). We also demonstrated that the FeCo/GC NCs@MSNs-SH are excellent recyclable adsorbents for methyl orange.2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 Jan2025-04-19T09:21:12.808Z2025-02-19T03:25:47.382ZS-EPMC90770143553896210.1039/c7ra12240c