Use of surfactant micelles to control the structural phase of nanosize iron clusters
The authors demonstrate that the chemical nature of the surfactant used to synthesize nanosize iron in inverse micelles can influence the crystalline phase of the nanoparticles. Specifically, they found that nonionic surfactants produced the normally high-temperature fcc {gamma}-Fe phase, while cationic surfactants of the quaternary ammonium variety produced nanoparticles with the typical bcc {alpha}-Fe phase. They speculate that the different binding characteristics of the two types of surfactants influence the growth rates of the small clusters in different crystallographic directions. This phenomenon is very analogous to the known role of surfactants as habit modifiers during the growth of large crystals. By varying both the micelle size used to grow the iron nanoparticles and the chemistry of the surfactant, it is now possible to vary both the size and phase of nanoparticles of iron.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 20003235
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Physical Chemistry B: Materials, Surfaces, Interfaces, amp Biophysical, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry B: Materials, Surfaces, Interfaces, amp Biophysical Journal Issue: 45 Vol. 103; ISSN JPCBFK
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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