Fe3O4@ZnO core-shell structured nanoparticles have been synthesized by a simple one-pot sequential polyol process. The nanoparticles have been investigated by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) and physical properties measurement system (PPMS) of Quantum Design. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.