Chitosan-mediated synthesis of mesoporous α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles and their applications in catalyzing selective oxidation of cyclohexane

This paper reports the chitosan-mediated synthesis of porous hematite nanoparticles with FeCl₃ as the precursor via a hydrothermal approach at 160 °C. A series of porous chitosan/iron oxide hybrid nanoparticles were obtained via changing the ratio of chitosan to FeCl₃, FeCl₃ concentration and pH value of the reaction solution, and producing porous iron oxide nanoparticles after calcination. The as-prepared samples were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared, and N₂ sorption. The particle sizes of these metal oxides were less than 100 nm, and the pore sizes were in the range of 2–16 nm. It was demonstrated that chitosan played a key role in the formation of the porous structures. The resultant α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were used as the support to immobilize Au or Pd nanoparticles, producing Au/α-Fe₂O₃ or Pd/α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. The as-prepared α-Fe₂O₃ nanocatalyst exhibited high selectivity towards cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol for catalyzing cyclohexane oxidation with O₂ at 150°C.     

Polypyrrole/γ-Fe2O3 magnetic nanocomposites synthesized in supercritical fluid

Polypyrrole/iron oxide (PPy/γ-Fe₂O₃) nanocomposites were synthesized by in situ oxidative polymerization of pyrrole in the presence of surface modified γ-Fe₂O₃ in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂). The structural properties of nanocomposite particles thus obtained were characterized by FT-IR, thermal analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that ca. 50 nm γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were well dispersed in PPy powder in TEM pictures. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis also support that all γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles are encapsulated by PPy. Magnetic property of the nanocomposites was measured by SQUID, which indicated that the nanocomposites are superparamagnetic. The effects of different loadings of γ-Fe2O3 on the polymerization were also investigated.     

Synthesis on an ultra large scale of nearly monodispersed γ-Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanoparticles with La(III) doping through a sol–gel route assisted by propylene oxide

Nearly monodispersed La³⁺ doped γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were synthesized on an ultra-large scale of about 60 g in a single reaction by a low temperature sol–gel route. The nanoparticles were obtained by the reaction of FeCl₂ and La(NO₃)₃ in ethanol solution with propylene oxide to form the sol, followed by the boiling of the sol solution. The La³⁺ doping promotes the phase transformation temperature of γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles from 350 to 650 °C by the La³⁺ doping induced enhancement of phase transformation activation energy. This large scale synthesis strategy offers important advantages over other conventional routes for the preparation of undoped and doped γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. These guarantee the promising application of this route in the industrial production.     

Preparation and characterization of shuttle-like α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles by supermolecular template

Shuttle-like α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized via a new soft-template route using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as polymer, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactant and FeCl₃·6H₂O as iron source materials. Meanwhile, spherical α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles are also fabricated under the similar conditions without surfactant and polymer. The resultant products are characterized by means of thermalgravimetric analysis (TGA), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, transmission electron micrograph (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and magnetization measurements. The homogeneous α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles with shuttle-like shape have an average length of 120 nm and a mean diameter of about 50 nm in the middle part (an average aspect ratio of about 2.5) whereas spherical α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles have a mean particle diameter of about 35 nm. Magnetic hysteresis measurements reveal that shuttle-like α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles display normal ferromagnetic behaviors while spherical α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles exhibit weak ferromagnetic behaviors at room temperature. The two types of α-Fe₂O₃ exhibit hysteretic features with the remanence and coercivity of 0.156 emu/g and 664 Oe, 0.048 emu/g and 110 Oe, respectively. The higher remanent magnetization and coercivity of shuttle-like α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles may be associated with the aspect ratio of α-Fe₂O₃ since shape anisotropy would exert a tremendous influence on their magnetic properties.     

Low temperature and size controlled synthesis of monodispersed γ-Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3 </Subscript>nanoparticles by an epoxide assisted sol–gel route

Monodispersed γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were prepared by a procedure-simple and precursor-cheap route, epoxide assisted sol–gel method. The γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were obtained by the reaction of FeCl₂ in ethanol solution with propylene oxide to form the sol, following by the boiling of the solution. As compared with other metal ions of +2 formal charge, the unexpected acidity of FeCl₂ in ethanol solution assure the formation of sol. As an advantage, the unique chemistry of this route results in the low temperature of synthesis, leading to the extremely small particle size of 2.3 nm and non-aggregation state of the particles.     

Synthesis and characterization of sol–gel derived bioactive CaO–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–P<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> glasses containing magnetic nanoparticles

Magnetic bioglasses in the system CaO–SiO₂–P₂O₅ were prepared by interaction of acetic acid vapors with iron nitrate dispersed on the surface of sol–gel derived porous silicate network. Upon pyrolysis, the created iron acetate species transform into magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and surface area measurements (BET) were employed to monitor the evolution of glass structural features during the synthetic pathway as well as the structure and the texture of the resultant glasses. XRD, Raman spectroscopy and vibration magnetic measurements (VSM) revealed the features of magnetic phases, developed in the form of γ-Fe₂O₃ and magnetite. The obtained glasses exhibit in vitro bioactivity, expressed by spontaneous formation of hydroxyapatite on their surface after immersion in SBF at 37 °C, confirmed with μ-Raman and FT-IR spectroscopies.     

High Temperature Stable Maghemite Nanoparticles Sandwiched between Hectorite Nanosheets

Maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃) is a metastable iron oxide phase and usually undergoes fast phase transition to hematite at elevated temperatures (>350 °C). Maghemite nanoparticles were synthesized by the polyol method and then intercalated into a highly swollen (>100 nm separation) nematic phase of hectorite. A composite of maghemite nanoparticles sandwiched between nanosheets of synthetic hectorite was obtained. The confinement of the nanoparticles hampered Ostwald ripening up to 700 °C and consequently the phase transition to hematite is suppressed. Only above 700 °C γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles started to grow and undergo phase transition to α-F₂O₃. The structure and the phase transition of the composite was evaluated using X-ray diffraction, TEM, SEM, physisorption, TGA/DSC, and Mößbauer spectroscopy.     

Catalytic conversions of chloroolefins over iron oxide nanoparticles 2. Isomerization of dichlorobutenes over iron oxide nanoparticles stabilized on the surface of ultradispersed poly(tetrafluoroethylene)

Nanosized iron oxides stabilized on the surface of ultradispersed poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (UPTFE) granules were synthesized by the thermal destruction of iron formate in boiling bed of UPTFE on the surface of heated mineral oil. The particle size of nanoparticles (∼6 nm) containing 5, 10, and 16 wt.% Fe depends weakly on the temperature of synthesis and iron to polymer ratio. The metal state is determined by the synthesis conditions. The nanoparticles synthesized at 280 °C consist mainly of the Fe₃O₄ and Fe₂O₃ phases. The samples obtained at 320 °C also contain iron(II) oxide. The catalytic properties of the obtained samples were tested in dichlorobutene isomerization. Unlike isomerization on the iron oxide nanoparticles supported on silica gel, reaction over the UPTFE supports proceeds without an induction period. The sample with 10 wt.% Fe containing magnetically ordered γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles possesses the highest catalytic activity. Fast electron exchange between the iron ions in different oxidation states and high defectiveness of the nanoparticles contribute, most likely, to the catalytic activity. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1383–1390, June, 2005.     

Synthesis of Silica@α-Fe2O3 nanospheres by surface-initiated ATRP

We reported a new method to prepare Silica@α-Fe₂O₃ nanospheres by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Firstly, polymerizable surfactants-modified α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were prepared in water-toluene microemulsion. Then, as-synthesized α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles acted as the macro-monomer of surface-initiated ATRP on silica nanospheres to make target product. Morphological characterization of the product was performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy were used to verify the incorporation of α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles on silica nanosphere.     

In situ synthesis of plate-like Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanoparticles in porous cellulose films with obvious magnetic anisotropy

Nanocomposite cellulose films with obvious magnetic anisotropy have been prepared by in situ synthesis of plate-like Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles in the cellulose matrix. The influence of the concentrations of FeCl₂ and FeCl₃ solutions on the morphology and particle size of the synthesized Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles as well as on the properties of the composite films has been investigated. The Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles synthesized in the cellulose matrix was γ-Fe₂O₃, and its morphology was plate-like with size about 48 nm and thickness about 9 nm, which was totally different from those reported works. The concentration of FeCl₂ and FeCl₃ solution has little influence on the particle size and morphology of the Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles, while the content of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles increased with the increase of the concentration of the precursor solution, indicating that porous structured cellulose matrix could modulate the growth of inorganic nanoparticles. The unique morphology of the Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles endowed the composite films with obvious magnetic anisotropy, which would expand the applications of the cellulose based nanomaterials.     

Structure and magnetic properties of the nanocomposites γ-Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The structural features and magnetic properties of composite materials Fe₂O₃-SiO₂ consisting of γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles in an amorphous porous matrix of SiO₂ were considered. The studied samples were synthesized by the sol-gel method. The structure of γ-Fe₂O₃-SiO₂ depending on the heating temperature was studied by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, ESR and IR spectroscopy. Magnetic measurements were performed on a SQUID magnetometer in the range 2–350 K.     

Surface-Modified Superparamagnetic Iron-Oxide Nanoparticles

The generation of superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles bearing fluorescent ligands is described. γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles (radius ∼4 and 8 nm) bearing octylamine or oleic acid as ligands were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis starting from Fe-cupferron and iron pentacarbonyl, respectively. Ligand exchange proceeds with 1,2-diols bearing ω-azido or ω-bromo ligands at elevated temperatures. Subsequent nucleophilic substitution reaction, followed by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with 2,4,6-trinitro-1-O-propargyl-benzene yields superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles with a fluoresecent ligand on their surface.     

Preparation of single-phase α-Fe(III) oxide nanoparticles by thermal decomposition. Influence of the precursor on properties

In this research, we present an experimental procedure to prepare single-phase α-Fe(III) oxide nanoparticles by thermal decomposition of five different precursors including: iron(III) citrate; Fe(C₆H₅O₇), iron(III) acetylacetonate; Fe(C₅H₇O₂)₃, and iron(III) oxalate; Fe(C₂O₄)₃, iron(III) acetate; Fe(C₂H₃O₂)₃, and the thermal curves obtained were analyzed. The influence of the thermal decomposition of precursors on the formation α-Fe₂O₃ was studied by differential thermal gravimetry and thermogravimetry. The synthesized powders were characterized by using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. High quality iron oxide nanoparticles with narrow size distribution and average particle size between ca. 2 and 30 nm have been obtained. It was found that the iron precursors affect the temperatures of the pure α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle formation with different diameters; iron(III) citrate (29 nm), iron(III) acetylacetonate (37 nm), and iron(III) oxalate (24 nm).     

Sol–gel preparation of highly transparent α-Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> film for the application in red color filter

α-Fe₂O₃ films as inorganic red color filter were synthesized through a simple procedure, epoxide assisted sol–gel route. The sol was prepared through reaction of FeCl₂ in boiling ethanol solution with propylene oxide. The films were formed by the dip-coating of sol on substrate, drying and the following annealing steps. The obtained α-Fe₂O₃ films were composed of homogeneous distributed α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles with size of 30–50 nm. The film shows strong absorption to the light below 600 nm and high transparency to the red light (87% at 630 nm). As inorganic red color filter, the optic behavior of this film is nearly as same as the organic color filter made of dye.     

Surface-Modified Superparamagnetic Iron-Oxide Nanoparticles

Summary. The generation of superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles bearing fluorescent ligands is described. γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles (radius ∼4 and 8 nm) bearing octylamine or oleic acid as ligands were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis starting from Fe-cupferron and iron pentacarbonyl, respectively. Ligand exchange proceeds with 1,2-diols bearing ω-azido or ω-bromo ligands at elevated temperatures. Subsequent nucleophilic substitution reaction, followed by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with 2,4,6-trinitro-1-O-propargyl-benzene yields superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles with a fluoresecent ligand on their surface.     

Thermal decomposition of some metal-organic precursors

In this paper we present a study on the synthesis of Fe(III) oxide, by thermal decomposition of some complex combinations of Fe(III) with carboxylate type ligands, obtained in the redox reaction between some polyols (ethylene glycol (EG), 1,2-propane diol (1,2PG), 1,3-propane diol (1,3PG) and glycerol (GL)) and NO₃ ^– ions (from ferric nitrate). Fe₂O₃ was obtained by thermal decomposition of the synthesized metal-organic precursors at low temperatures. γ-Fe₂O₃ was obtained as nanoparticles at 300°C, while at higher temperatures α-Fe₂O₃ starts to crystallize and becomes single phase at ~500°C. The formation of the metal-organic precursors and their thermal decomposition were studied by thermal analysis and FTIR spectroscopy.     

A general ultra large scale strategy for low temperature sol–gel synthesis of nearly monodispersed metal ions doped γ-Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanoparticles

A general sol–gel strategy was established for the synthesis of metal ions doped γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles with narrow particle size distribution. The unique chemistry of the route guarantees the simple preparation procedure for the preparation of doped γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles, which includes the boiling of the ethanolic solution of precursor salts after the addition of gelation agent, and the following drying of the obtained sol solution. On the other hand, it guarantees the production of the nanoparticles with nearly monodispersed state and median size of about 5 nm on an ultra large scale of about 60 g in a single reaction. The doping of metal ions in γ-Fe₂O₃ allows the great promotion of phase transformation temperature from γ-Fe₂O₃ to α-Fe₂O₃. Due to the advantages of this strategy over other routes, it is very promising to be applied in the industrial production of undoped and doped γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles as a general route.     

Preparation of monodispersed ��-Fe2O3 nanoparticles by a hydrothermal synthetic route

Monodispersed ??-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles modified by sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) surfactant and assisted by glycerol have been successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal process using FeCl₃·6H₂O as the starting precursor. These nanoparticles possess good crystallinity and have an average particle size of 100 nm. The as-prepared products are characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and a superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer. SDBS and glycerol played an important role in controlling the final morphology of the products. Magnetic hysteresis measurements reveal that monodispersed ??-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles exhibit normal ferromagnetic behaviors with the remanent magnetization and coercivity of 0.2389 emu/g and 2339.0 Oe at room temperature.     

Chlorination as a means for changing the composition of iron-containing nanoparticles in a polyethylene matrix

Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy were used to study the reactions of Fe₃O₄ or FeCl₂ · 4H₂O nanoparticles stabilized in a polyethylene (HPPE) matrix with gaseous chlorine and hydrogen chloride. These reactions produce FeCl₂ · 2H₂O nanoparticles, which retain the particle size and distribution over the HPPE matrix intrinsic to precursor nanoparticles. We propose chemical modification of iron-containing nanomaterials as a means for manufacturing iron(II) chloride nanoparticles.     

Nonaqueous synthesis and characterization of capped α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles from iron(III) hydroxy-oleate precursor

The synthesis of capped α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles from thermal treatment of iron (III) hydroxy-oleate in boiling organic solvents around 250 °C with retention of the integrity of the oleate units during the reaction process is reported. The formation of capped iron oxide particles is accomplished under aerobic conditions while the solvents used in the synthesis have strong influence on the nature and morphology of nanoparticles. These nanoparticles are studied by means of X-ray powder diffraction, IR and XPS while the morphology and particle size of nanocrystals are evaluated using SEM and TEM analysis suggesting the formation of monocrystalline α-Fe₂O₃ particles having cubical and spherical morphologies with sizes ranging from 20 to 30 nm. This organophilic material with oleate capping around the surfaces can be readily dispersed in organic solvents thus forming organosols. These organosols exhibit band-edge emission photoluminescence band both in toluene as well as in solid state while FT-IR analysis reveals formation oleate capped nanoparticles The XPS data indicate ferric state having doublet from Fe 2p_3/2 and Fe 2p_1/2 core-level electrons.