Continuous hydrothermal synthesis of in situ functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles

The successful synthesis of in situ functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles with alkyne functional groups is presented. The method uses a continuous process in which a cold aqueous metal salt stream is mixed with bifunctional organic molecules and near-critical or supercritical water (nc-H2O/sc-H2O). The resulting particles can be fitted with a wide range of molecules via click reactions.