α‐Fe2O3 Polyhedral Nanoparticles Enclosed by Different Crystal Facets: Tunable Synthesis,Formation Mechanism Analysis,and Facets‐dependent n‐Butanol Sensing Properties

Three kinds of polyhedral α‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles enclosed by different facets including oblique parallel hexahedrons (op‐hexahedral NPs), cracked oblique parallel hexahedrons (cop‐hexahedral NPs), and octadecahedral nanoparticles (octadecahedral NPs), were successfully prepared by simply changing only one reaction parameter in the hydrothermal process. The structural and morphological of the products were systematically studied using various characterizations including X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), revealing that the three kinds of α‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were enclosed by {104}, {110}/{104}, and {102}/{012}/{104} crystal planes, respectively. The exposed facets and shape of the nanocrystals were found to be affected by the adding amount of ethylene glycol in the solvent. The gas‐sensing properties and mechanism of the α‐Fe₂O₃ samples were studied and analyzed, which indicated that the sensitivity of the three samples followed the order of octadecahedral NPs > cop‐hexahedral NPs > op‐hexahedral NPs due to the combined effects of specific surface area and oxygen defects in the nanocrystals.     

The Origin of Shape Sensitivity in Palladium‐Catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura Cross Coupling Reactions

The shape sensitivity of Pd catalysts in Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions is studied using nanocrystals enclosed by well‐defined surface facets. The catalytic performance of Pd nanocrystals with cubic, cuboctahedral and octahedral morphologies are compared. Superior catalytic reactivity is observed for Pd NCs with {100} surface facets compared to {111} facets. The origin of the enhanced reactivity associated with a cubic morphology is related to the leaching susceptibility of the nanocrystals. Molecular oxygen plays a key role in facilitating the leaching of Pd atoms from the surface of the nanocrystals. The interaction of O₂ with Pd is itself facet‐dependent, which in turn gives rise to more efficient leaching from {100} facets, compared to {111} facets under the reaction conditions.     

Geometrical Structure of the Gold–Iron(III) Oxide Interfacial Perimeter for CO Oxidation

The geometrical structure of the Au‐Fe₂O₃ interfacial perimeter, which is generally considered as the active sites for low‐temperature oxidation of CO, was examined. It was found that the activity of the Au/Fe₂O₃ catalysts not only depends on the number of the gold atoms at the interfacial perimeter but also strongly depends on the geometrical structure of these gold atoms, which is determined by the size of the gold particle. Aberration‐corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy images unambiguously suggested that the gold particles, transformed from a two‐dimensional flat shape to a well‐faceted truncated octahedron when the size slightly enlarged from 2.2 to 3.5 nm. Such a size‐induced shape evolution altered the chemical bonding environments of the gold atoms at the interfacial perimeters and consequently their catalytic activity. For Au particles with a mean size of 2.2 nm, the interfacial perimeter gold atoms possessed a higher degree of unsaturated coordination environment while for Au particles with a mean size of 3.5 nm the perimeter gold atoms mainly followed the atomic arrangements of Au {111} and {100} facets. Kinetic study, with respect to the reaction rate and the turnover frequency on the interfacial perimeter gold atom, found that the low‐coordinated perimeter gold atoms were intrinsically more active for CO oxidation. ¹⁸O isotopic titration and Infrared spectroscopy experiments verified that CO oxidation at room temperature occurred at the Au‐Fe₂O₃ interfacial perimeter, involving the participation of the lattice oxygen of Fe₂O₃ for activating O₂ and the gold atoms for CO adsorption and activation.     

Preparation and Characterization of Fe3O4/Ethiodized‐oil Magnetic Fluids Used in Arterial Embolization Hyperthermia

Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by the co‐precipitation of Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺ with ammonium hydroxide, and were modified by four different surfactants. The modified Fe₃O₄ NPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer. Then, the modified Fe₃O₄ NPs were dispersed in ethiodized‐oil by mechanical agitation and ultrasonic vibration to obtain stable Fe₃O₄/ethiodized‐oil magnetic fluids (MFs). The magnetic properties and rheological properties of the MFs were measured using a Gouy magnetic balance and a rotational rheometer, respectively. The saturation magnetization of the Fe₃O₄ modified by oleic acid was 52.1 emu/g. Furthermore, the result showed that the inductive heating effect of oleic acid stabilized Fe₃O₄/ethiodized‐oil MF was remarkable and it only took 650 s for the temperature rising from 25°C to 65°C. The specific absorption rate of the MF was 50.16 W/(g of Fe). It had a potential application in arterial embolization hyperthermia.     

Morphological evolution of Cu2O nanocrystals in an acid solution: stability of different crystal planes

The morphological evolution of uniform Cu(2)O nanocrystals with different morphologies in a weak acetic acid solution (pH = 3.5) has been studied for cubic, octahedral, rhombic dodecahedral, {100} truncated octahedral, and {110} truncated octahedral nanocrystals. Cu(2)O nanocrystals undergo oxidative dissolution in weak acid solution, but their morphological changes depend on the exposed crystal planes. We found that the stability of Cu(2)O crystal planes in weak acid solution follows the order of {100} ? {111} > {110} and determines how the morphology of Cu(2)O nanocrystals evolves. The stable {100} crystal planes remain, and new {100} facets form at the expense of the less stable {111} and {110} crystal planes on the surface of Cu(2)O nanocrystals. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the Cu-O bond on Cu(2)O(100) surface has the shortest bond length. These results clearly exemplify that the morphology of inorganic crystals will evolve with the change of local chemical environment, shedding light on fundamentally understanding the morphological evolution of natural minerals and providing novel insights into the geomimetic synthesis of inorganic materials in the laboratory.     

Metal Ions Induce Growth and Magnetism Alternation of α‐Fe2O3 Crystals Bound by High‐Index Facets

In this study, quasi‐cubic and hexagonal bipyramid α‐Fe₂O₃ polyhedrons with high‐index facets exposed were controllably synthesized by applying metal ions Zn²⁺ or Cu²⁺ as structure‐directing agents. The growth of the α‐Fe₂O₃ nanostructures with high‐index facets were induced by metal ions without the addition of any other surfactants. The quasi‐cubic form controlled by Zn²⁺ looks like a cube but has an angle of approximately 86° bound by (012), (10‐2), and (1‐12) facets, whereas the hexagonal bipyramid form controlled by Cu²⁺ has a sixfold axis bound by {012} facets. Magnetic measurements confirm that these two kinds of nanocrystals display shape‐ and surface‐dependent magnetic behaviors. The hexagonal bipyramid iron oxide nanocrystals show a lower Morin transition temperature of 240 K and might be spin‐canted ferromagnetically controlled at room temperature, and the ferromagnetism disappears at low temperature. The quasi‐cubic nanocrystals have a splitting between FC curve and ZFC curve from the highest experimental temperature and no Morin transformation occurs; this indicates that they would be defect ferromagnetically controlled at low temperature. The reported metal‐ion‐directing technique could provide a universal method for shape‐ and surface‐controlled synthesis of nanocrystals with high‐index facets exposed.     

One-pot synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles assembled on polysiloxane rod and their response to magnetic field

Rod-like assembled magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully synthesized in a one-pot process using a polysiloxane template derived from a dialkoxysilane. The assembly was constructed using the thiol-ene click reaction between thiol groups on the polysiloxane chain and allyl groups on Fe₃O₄ NPs. The thiol-containing polysiloxane chain and the allyl-containing Fe₃O₄ NPs were synthesized by the hydrolysis–condensation of 3-mercaptopropyl(dimethoxy)methylsilane and iron (III) allylacetylacetonate, respectively. Fe₃O₄ NPs of around 5 nm were uniformly dispersed on the siloxane rods and exhibited neither remanent magnetization nor coercivity. A fluid containing a dispersion of rod-like assembled Fe₃O₄ NPs showed yield stress even without the application of an external magnetic field, whereas spherical Fe₃O₄ NPs exhibited no yield stress. The rod-like assembled Fe₃O₄ NPs on anisotropic siloxane clearly exhibited typical magnetorheological behavior.     

Organometallic assembling of chitosan‐Iron oxide nanoparticles with their antifungal evaluation against Rhizopus oryzae

The ever‐increasing resistance of plant microbes towards fungicides and bactericides has been causing serious threat to plant production in recent years. For the development of an effective antifungal agent, we introduce a novel hydrothermal protocol for synthesis of chitosan iron oxide nanoparticles (CH‐Fe₂O₃ NPs) using acetate buffer of low pH 5.0 for intermolecular interaction of Fe₂O₃ NPs and CH. The composite structure and elemental elucidation were carried out by using X‐ray power diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X‐ray (EDX), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Ultraviolet Visible Absorption Spectroscopy (UV–vis spectroscopy). Additionally, antifungal activity was evaluated both In vitro and In vivo against Rhizopus oryzae which is causing fruit rot disease of strawberry. We compared different concentrations (0.25%, 0.50%, 075% and 1%) of CH‐Fe₂O₃ NPs and 50% synthetic fungicide (Matalyxal Mancozab) to figure out suitable concentration for application in the field. XRD analysis showed a high crystalline nature of the NPs with average size of 52 nanometer (nm). SEM images revealed spherical shape with size range of 50–70 nm, whereas, TEM also revealed spherical shape, size ranging from 0 nm to 80 nm. EDX and FTIR results revealed presence of CH on surface of Fe₂O₃ NPs. The band gap measurement showed peak 317–318 nm for bare Fe₂O₃ NPs and CH‐Fe₂O₃ NPs respectively. Antifungal activity in both In vitro and In vivo significantly increased with increase in concentration. The overall results revealed high synergetic antifungal potential of organometallic CH‐Fe₂O₃ NPs against Rhizopus oryzae and suggest the use of CH‐Fe₂O₃ NPs against other Phyto‐pathological diseases due to biodegradable nature.     

磁性纳米Pd/Fe3O4催化剂的制备及其在Heck反应中的应用

通过使用聚乙烯吡咯烷酮作为稳定剂,合成了磁性Pd/Fe₃O₄纳米颗粒催化剂。对该催化剂进行粉末X射线衍射、透射电子显微镜、感应耦合等离子体和磁性表征。将Pd/Fe₃O₄催化剂用于Heck反应,检测其催化性能。测试结果表明Pd纳米颗粒负载在Fe₃O₄纳米颗粒上,而且催化剂的尺寸<20 nm,并在Heck反应中表现了极好的催化性能。此外,催化剂可以通过磁场回收利用, 且催化活性没有显著的降低。     

Selective enrichment of catecholamines using iron oxide nanoparticles followed by CE with UV detection

This study examines the use of unmodified magnetite nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ NPs) for selective extraction and enrichment of the catecholamines dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NE), and adrenaline (E), prior to analysis using capillary electrophoresis with UV detection. Coordination between Fe³⁺ on‐the‐surface Fe₃O₄ NPs and the catechol moiety of catecholamines enables Fe₃O₄ NPs to capture catecholamines from an aqueous solution. We obtained maximum loading of catecholamines on the NP surface by adjusting the pH of the solution to 7.0. In addition, catecholamine loading on the Fe₃O₄ NPs increased in conjunction with NP concentrations. H₃PO₄ was found to be efficient for the removal of adsorbed catecholamines on the NP surface. Adding 1.2% poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) to the background electrolyte resulted in a baseline separation of the liberated catecholamines within 20 min. Under optimal extraction and separation conditions, the limit of detections at a S/N ratio of 3 for E, NE, and DA were 9, 8, and 10 nM, respectively. Significantly, the combination of a phenylboronate‐containing spin column and the proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of NE and DA in human urine and NE in Portulaca oleracea L. leaves.     

Double‐Layered Plasmonic–Magnetic Vesicles by Self‐Assembly of Janus Amphiphilic Gold–Iron(II,III) Oxide Nanoparticles

Janus nanoparticles (JNPs) offer unique features, including the precisely controlled distribution of compositions, surface charges, dipole moments, modular and combined functionalities, which enable excellent applications that are unavailable to their symmetrical counterparts. Assemblies of NPs exhibit coupled optical, electronic and magnetic properties that are different from single NPs. Herein, we report a new class of double‐layered plasmonic–magnetic vesicle assembled from Janus amphiphilic Au‐Fe₃O₄ NPs grafted with polymer brushes of different hydrophilicity on Au and Fe₃O₄ surfaces separately. Like liposomes, the vesicle shell is composed of two layers of Au‐Fe₃O₄ NPs in opposite direction, and the orientation of Au or Fe₃O₄ in the shell can be well controlled by exploiting the amphiphilic property of the two types of polymers.     

Magnetic Resonance and Mössbauer Studies of Superparamagnetic γ‐Fe2O3 Nanoparticles Encapsulated into Liquid‐Crystalline Poly(propylene imine) Dendrimers

We present the first results of electron magnetic resonance (EMR) and Mössbauer spectroscopy studies of γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles (NPs) incorporated into liquid‐crystalline, second‐generation dendrimers. The mean size of NPs formed in the dendrimers was around 2.5 nm. A temperature‐driven transition from superparamagnetic to ferrimagnetic resonance was observed for the sample. Low‐temperature blocking of the NP magnetic moments has been clearly evidenced in the integrated EMR line intensity and the blocking temperature was about 60 K. The physical parameters of magnetic NPs (magnetic moment, effective magnetic anisotropy) have been determined from analyses of the EMR data. The effective magnetic anisotropy constant is enhanced relative to bulk γ‐Fe₂O₃ and this enhanced value is associated with the influence of the surface and shape effects. The angular dependence of the EMR signal position for the field‐freezing sample from liquid‐crystalline phase showed that NPs possessed uniaxial anisotropy, in contrast to bulk γ‐Fe₂O₃. Mössbauer spectroscopy determined that fabricated NPs consisted of an α‐Fe core and a γ‐Fe₂O₃ shell.     

Iron oxide nanoparticles coated with green tea extract as a novel magnetite reductant and stabilizer sorbent for silver ions: Synthetic application of Fe3O4@green tea/Ag nanoparticles as magnetically separable and reusable nanocatalyst for reduction of 4‐nitrophenol

Green tea extract having many phenolic hydroxyl and carbonyl functional groups in its molecular framework can be used in the modification of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. Moreover, the feasibility of complexation of polyphenols with silver ions in aqueous solution can improve the surface properties and capacity of the Fe₃O₄@green tea extract nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@GTE NPs) for sorption and reduction of silver ions. Therefore, the novel Fe₃O₄@GTE NPs nano‐sorbent has potential ability as both reducing and stabilizing agent for immobilization of silver nanoparticles to make a novel magnetic silver nanocatalyst (Fe₃O₄@GTE/Ag NPs). Inductively coupled plasma analysis, transmission and scanning electron microscopies, energy‐dispersive X‐ray and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies, and vibrating sample magnetometry were used to characterize the catalyst. Fe₃O₄@GTE/Ag NPs shows high catalytic activity as a recyclable nanocatalyst for the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol at room temperature.     

FeIII in a low‐spin state in caesium bis[3‐ethoxysalicylaldehyde 4‐methylthiosemicarbazonato(2–)‐κ3O2,N1,S]ferrate(III) methanol monosolvate

The synthesis and crystal structure (at 100 K) of the title compound, Cs[Fe(C₁₁H₁₃N₃O₂S₂)₂]·CH₃OH, is reported. The asymmetric unit consists of an octahedral [Fe^III(L)₂]⁻ fragment, where L²⁻ is 3‐ethoxysalicylaldehyde 4‐methylthiosemicarbazonate(2−) {systematic name: [2‐(3‐ethoxy‐2‐oxidobenzylidene)hydrazin‐1‐ylidene](methylamino)methanethiolate}, a caesium cation and a methanol solvent molecule. Each L²⁻ ligand binds through the thiolate S, the imine N and the phenolate O atoms as donors, resulting in an Fe^IIIS₂N₂O₂ chromophore. The O,N,S‐coordinating ligands are orientated in two perpendicular planes, with the O and S atoms in cis positions and the N atoms in trans positions. The Fe^III cation is in the low‐spin state at 100 K.     

Ultrafast Preparation of Monodisperse Fe3O4 Nanoparticles by Microwave‐Assisted Thermal Decomposition

Thermal decomposition, as the main synthetic procedure for the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles (NPs), is facing several problems, such as high reaction temperatures and time consumption. An improved a microwave‐assisted thermal decomposition procedure has been developed by which monodisperse Fe₃O₄ NPs could be rapidly produced at a low aging temperature with high yield (90.1 %). The as‐synthesized NPs show excellent inductive heating and MRI properties in vitro. In contrast, Fe₃O₄ NPs synthesized by classical thermal decomposition were obtained in very low yield (20.3 %) with an overall poor quality. It was found for the first time that, besides precursors and solvents, magnetic NPs themselves could be heated by microwave irradiation during the synthetic process. These findings were demonstrated by a series of microwave‐heating experiments, Raman spectroscopy and vector‐network analysis, indicating that the initially formed magnetic Fe₃O₄ particles were able to transform microwave energy into heat directly and, thus, contribute to the nanoparticle growth.     

Preparation of novel magnetic fluorescent microspheres from copperas and fluorescence enhancement with zinc ions

The aim of this study is to develop a new method for the preparation of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂–An NPs from copperas. The core–shell structures of the nanoparticles and chemical composition have been confirmed by TEM, XRD and FTIR techniques. Fluorescence Enhancement of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂–An NPs with zinc ions was investigated by fluorescence emission spectra. The results indicated that the Fe₃O₄ NPs with a high purity (Total Fe 72.16 %) were obtained from copperas by chemical co-precipitation method and have a uniform spherical morphology with an average diameter of about 10 nm. The Fe₃O₄ NPs coated with silica nanoparticles were prepared, and an attempt had been made that the Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ NPs were modified by 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and 9-anthranone successively. The recommended mole ratio of ethanol to water and the content of ammonia water added were 4:1 and 25 wt% respectively, which have an obviously effect on the combination of the final well-ordered MNPs with the amino functionalities and reactant components. The functionalized Fe₃O₄@SiO₂–An NPs have a fluorescence property and this fluorescence effect can be enhanced with the Zn²⁺ ions attachment. Meanwhile, the saturated magnetization of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂–An NPs was 37.8 emug^?1 at 25 °C and this fluorescent material exhibited excellent magnetic properties. A new way was therefore provided for the comprehensive utilization of the unmarketable copperas. Moreover, the functionalized Fe₃O₄@SiO₂–An NPs have a big potential in environmental decontamination, medical technology and biological science.     

Biogenic synthesis of husked rice-shaped iron oxide nanoparticles using coconut pulp (Cocos nucifera L.) extract for photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B dye and their in vitro antibacterial and anticancer activity

In this present study, photocatalytic and in-vitro biological properties of biogenic preparation of husked rice-shaped iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₂O₃ NPs) are investigated. Fe₂O₃ NPs have been prepared by the reduction of iron chloride (FeCl₃) using coconut pulp (Cocos nucifera L.) extract. The Fe₂O₃ NPs were characterized by various analytical techniques such as FE-SEM, TEM, XRD, FT-IR, TGA, VSM, PL, and UV-DRS. Based on the characterization results, the as-prepared Fe₂O₃ NPs are in husked rice shape and exhibit rhombohedral crystal phase and also show an excellent stability. The prepared Fe₂O₃ NPs was investigated as a catalyst for the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B solution. The photocatalytic results indicated that the Fe₂O₃ NPs catalyst possesses good activity with efficiency of 92% after 50 min under visible-light irradiation. In addition, the Fe₂O₃ NPs showed good antibacterial and anticancer properties against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive, Staphylococcus aureus and HepG2 cell lines, resulting in effective antibacterial and anticancer activity. The prepared Fe₂O₃ NPs, thus, proved to be a potential material for environmental remediation and biological applications.     

Separation of chiral compounds using magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles as stationary phase by microchip capillary electrochromatography

In this work, a simple and rapid approach was developed for separation and detection of chiral compounds based on a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer modified poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchip coupled with electrochemical detection. Molecularly imprinted polymers were prepared employing Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) as the supporting substrate and norepinephrine as the functional monomer in the presence of template molecule in a weak alkaline solution. After extracting the embedded template molecules, Fe₃O₄@polynorepinephrine NPs (MIP–Fe₃O₄@PNE NPs) showed specific molecular recognition selectivity and high affinity towards the template molecule, which were then used as stationary phase of microchip capillary electrochromatography for chiral compounds separation. Mandelic acid and histidine enantiomers were used as model compounds to test the chiral stationary phase. By using R‐mandelic acid as the template molecule, mandelic acid enantiomer was effectively separated and detected on the MIP‐Fe₃O₄@PNE NPs modified PDMS microchip. Moreover, the successful separation of histidine enantiomers on the MIP–Fe₃O₄@PNE NPs modified microchip using L‐histidine as template molecule was also achieved.     

Peapod‐Type Nanocomposites through the In Situ Growth of Gold Nanoparticles within Preformed Hexaniobate Nanoscrolls

A facile in situ method to grow Au nanoparticles (NPs) in hexaniobate nanoscrolls is applied to the formation of plasmonic Au@hexaniobate and bifunctional plasmonic‐magnetic Au‐Fe₃O₄@hexaniobate nanopeapods (NPPs). Utilizing a solvothermal treatment, rigid multiwalled hexaniobate nanoscrolls and partially filled Fe₃O₄@hexaniobate NPPs were first fabricated. These nanostructures were then used as templates for the controlled in situ growth of Au NPs. The resulting peapod structures exhibited high filling fractions and long‐range uniformity. Optical measurements showed a progressive red shift in plasmonic behavior between Au NPs, Au NPPs, and Au‐Fe₃O₄ NPPs; magnetic studies found that the addition of gold in the Fe₃O₄@hexaniobate NPPs reduced interparticle coupling effects. The development of this approach allows for the routine bulk preparation of noble‐metal‐containing bifunctional nanopeapod materials.     

Sensing H2O2 with layer-by-layer assembled Fe3O4–PDDA nanocomposite film

It was found that Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ NPs) possess intrinsic enzyme mimetic activity similar to that found in natural peroxidase. Here, we applied Fe₃O₄ NPs to the construction of efficient electrochemical sensor to detect the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. The sensor was fabricated with layer-by-layer assembly of Fe₃O₄ NPs and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) through the electrostatic interaction, and the multilayer film was characterized with UV–vis absorption spectra, atomic force microscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Moreover, the sensor showed prominent electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of H₂O₂, and the interferences of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) were completely avoided. Unlike the inherent instability of enzyme, Fe₃O₄ NPs-based sensor demonstrated outstanding stability.