Stable cluster formation in aqueous suspensions of ironoxyhydroxide nanoparticles
Journal Article
·
· Science
OSTI ID:923275
Metal oxide and oxyhydroxide nanoparticles are importantcomponents of natural aqueous systems and have application inphotocatalysis. Uncoated (oxyhydr)oxide nanoparticles can formcharge-stabilized colloids in water, but the precise regimes ofdispersion and aggregation have been determined for very fewnanomaterials. We studied the colloidal behavior of approximately 6 nmnanoparticles of iron oxyhydroxide (FeOOH), a common natural nanoscalecolloid, and found that these nanoparticles formed stable suspendedclusters under a range of aqueous conditions. Light and X-ray scatteringmethods show that suspended fractal nanoclusters are formed between pH 5and 6.6 with well-defined maximum diameters that can be varied from 25 nmto approximately 1000 nm. The nanoclusters retain a very high surfacearea, and persist in suspension for at least 10 weeks in solution. Theprocess is partially reversible because optically transparent suspensionsare regained when nanoparticles that aggregated and settled at pH>7are adjusted to pH 4 without stirring. However, completely redispersednanoparticles are not obtained even after one month. Because nanoclusterformation is controlled predominantly by surface charge, we anticipatethat many metal oxide and other inorganic nanoparticles will exhibitequivalent cluster-forming behavior. Our results indicate that naturalnanoparticles could form stable nanoclusters in groundwater that arelikely to be highly mobile, with implications for the long-rangetransport of surface sorbed contaminants.
- Research Organization:
- Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley NationalLaboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Director. Office of Science. Basic EnergySciences
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-05CH11231
- OSTI ID:
- 923275
- Report Number(s):
- LBNL--60208; BnR: KC0303020
- Journal Information:
- Science, Journal Name: Science Vol. 313; ISSN 0193-4511; ISSN SCEHDK
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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