From iron(III) precursor to magnetite and vice versa
The syntheses of nanosize magnetite particles by wet-chemical oxidation of Fe 2+ have been extensively investigated. In the present investigation the nanosize magnetite particles were synthesised without using the Fe(II) precursor. This was achieved by γ-irradiation of water-in-oil microemulsion con...
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Published in | Materials research bulletin Vol. 44; no. 10; pp. 2014 - 2021 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
United States
Elsevier Ltd
01.10.2009
|
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | The syntheses of nanosize magnetite particles by wet-chemical oxidation of Fe
2+ have been extensively investigated. In the present investigation the nanosize magnetite particles were synthesised without using the Fe(II) precursor. This was achieved by γ-irradiation of water-in-oil microemulsion containing only the Fe(III) precursor. The corresponding phase transformations were monitored. Microemulsions (pH
∼
12.5) were γ-irradiated at a relatively high dose rate of ∼22
kGy/h. Upon 1
h of γ-irradiation the XRD pattern of the precipitate showed goethite and unidentified low-intensity peaks. Upon 6
h of γ-irradiation, reductive conditions were achieved and substoichiometric magnetite (∼Fe
2.71O
4) particles with insignificant amount of goethite particles found in the precipitate. Hydrated electrons
(
e
a
q
−
)
, organic radicals and hydrogen gas as radiolytic products were responsible for the reductive dissolution of iron oxide in the microemulsion and the reduction Fe
3+
→
Fe
2+. Upon 18
h of γ-irradiation the precipitate exhibited dual behaviour, it was a more oxidised product than the precipitate obtained after 6
h of γ-irradiation, but it contained magnetite particles in a more reduced form (∼Fe
2.93O
4). It was presumed that the reduction and oxidation processes existed as concurrent competitive processes in the microemulsion. After 18
h of γ-irradiation the pH of the medium shifted from the alkaline to the acidic range. The high dose rate of ∼22
kGy/h was directly responsible for this shift to the acidic range. At a slightly acidic pH a further reduction of Fe
3+
→
Fe
2+ resulted in the formation of more stoichiometric magnetite particles, whereas the oxidation conditions in the acidic medium permitted the oxidation Fe
2+
→
Fe
3+. The Fe
3+ was much less soluble in the acidic medium and it hydrolysed and recrystallised as goethite. The γ-irradiation of the microemulsion for 25
h at a lower dose rate of 16
kGy/h produced pure substoichiometric nanosize magnetite particles of about 25
nm in size and with the stoichiometry of Fe
2.83O
4. |
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ISSN: | 0025-5408 1873-4227 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.materresbull.2009.06.002 |