"Nano-egg" superstructures of hydrophobic nanocrystals dispersed in water.

In this feature article, we use hydrophobic ferrite (Fe 3 O 4 ) nanocrystal shells filled with Au nanocrystals self-assembled into 3D superlattices and dispersed in water. These superstructures act as nano-heaters. The stability of such superstructures is very high, even for several years, when stored at room temperature. When subjected to an electron beam, the inverted structure of Fe 3 O 4 structures is gradually dissolved due to the formation of hydrated electrons and hydroxyl radicals.