skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: One-step room temperature synthesis of very small γ-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles

Journal Article · · Materials Research Bulletin
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2]; ;  [1]
  1. Laboratorio de Sólidos Amorfos, INTECIN, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1063ACV, Buenos Aires (Argentina)
  2. Instituto de Materiales y Reactivos, Universidad de La Habana, CP10400, Ciudad Habana (Cuba)

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • One-step synthesis of 3 nm maghemite nanoparticles is reported. • Maghemite nanoparticles can be synthesized from a ferric solution. • γ-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} NPs can be obtained if the precursor has Fe(III) in tetrahedral interstices. • HR-TEM, Mössbauer, XAFS and magnetometry analysis proved the maghemite existence - Abstract: Very small maghemite nanoparticles (∼3 nm) are obtained through a one-step synthesis at room temperature. The fast neutralization reaction of a ferric solution in a basic medium produces an intermediate phase, presumably two-line ferrihydrite, which in oxidizing conditions is transformed to maghemite nanoparticles. The synthesis of maghemite, as final product of the reaction, was characterized by High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS), Mössbauer spectroscopy, and magnetometry. The XAFS technique allowed the analysis of the crystallographic variations into maghemite nanoparticles as a result of modification in its surface/volume ratio. Mössbauer spectroscopy at low temperature (4.2 K) confirms the presence of Fe(III) in tetrahedral and octahedral interstices, in the stoichiometry corresponding to maghemite. The specific magnetization, M vs H (3 K and 300 K, up to 7 T) and temperature dependence of the magnetization (50 Oe by ZFC mode, 2 K ≤ T ≤ 300 K) indicate that maghemite nanoparticles of 3 nm are in superparamagnetic state with a blocking temperature close to 36 K.

OSTI ID:
22341788
Journal Information:
Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 48, Issue 9; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English