Metallorganic routes to nanoscale iron and titanium oxide particles encapsulated in mesoporous alumina: formation, physical properties, and chemical reactivity

Iron and titanium oxide nanoparticles have been synthesized in parallel mesopores of alumina by a novel organometallic "chimie douce" approach that uses bis(toluene)iron(0) (1) and bis(toluene)titanium(0) (2) as precursors. These complexes are molecular sources of iron and titanium in a zerovalent atomic state. In the case of 1, core shell iron/iron oxide particles with a strong magnetic coupling between both components, as revealed by magnetic measurements, are formed. M?ssbauer data reveal superparamagnetic particle behavior with a distinct particle size distribution that confirms the magnetic measurements. The dependence of the M?ssbauer spectra on temperature and particle size is explained by the influence of superparamagnetic relaxation effects. The coexistence of a paramagnetic doublet and a magnetically split component in the spectra is further explained by a distribution in particle size. From M?ssbauer parameters the oxide phase can be identified as low-crystallinity ferrihydrite oxide. In agreement with quantum size effects observed in UV-visible studies, TEM measurements determine the size of the particles in the range 5-8 nm. The particles are mainly arranged alongside the pore walls of the alumina template. TiO2 nanoparticles are formed by depositing 2 in mesoporous alumina template. This produces metallic Ti, which is subsequently oxidized to TiO2 (anatase) within the alumina pores. UV-visible studies show a strong quantum confinement effect for these particles. From UV-visible investigations the particle size is determined to be around 2 nm. XPS analysis of the iron- and titania- embedded nanoparticles reveal the presence of Fe2O3 and TiO2 according to experimental binding energies and the experimental line shapes. Ti4+ and Fe3+ are the only oxidation states of the particles which can be determined by this technique. Hydrogen reduction of the iron/iron-oxide nanoparticles at 500 degrees C under flowing H2/N2 produces a catalyst, which is active towards formation of carbon nanotubes by a CVD process. Depending on the reaction conditions, the formation of smaller carbon nanotubes inside the interior of larger carbon nanotubes within the alumina pores can be achieved. This behavior can be understood by means of selectively turning on and off the iron catalyst by adjusting the flow rate of the gaseous carbon precursor in the CVD process.     

Metallic ReO3 nanoparticles

ReO3 nanoparticles in the diameter range of 8.5-32.5 nm have been prepared by decomposition of the Re2O7-dioxane complex under solvothermal conditions and characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, optical spectroscopy, and scanning probe microscopy. The nanoparticles have the cubic (Pm3m {221} space group) structure with the lattice parameter increasing with decreasing size. The particles are metallic and show a plasmon band around 520 nm, which becomes blue-shifted with a decrease in size. The metallicity of the nanoparticles is also confirmed by tunneling conductance measurements. The nanoparticles show paramagnetic or diamagnetic behavior depending on the size, with evidence for superparamagnetism at low temperatures when the size is small.     

Size and surface effects of prussian blue nanoparticles protected by organic polymers

Prussian blue (PB) nanoparticles protected by organic polymers such as poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) were prepared. Different experimental conditions (concentrations of Fe ions and feed ratios of Fe to the polymers) have been investigated to control the size of the PB nanoparticles. For example, the averaged dimensions of the PB nanoparticles were tuned from 12 to 27 nm by use of PVP in the different conditions. Addition of PDDA produced the PB nanoparticles with very small dimensions (5-8 nm) by an effective electrostatic interaction. We found that the surface environments of the PB nanoparticles affect the inherent properties of PB. The shifts of charge transfer (CT) absorptions from Fe(2+) to Fe(3+) in the PB nanoparticles resulted from the surface-protecting polymers. Especially, the PB nanoparticles with the PVP protection show high solubility in a variety of organic solvents and a solvent-dependent CT absorption. Measurement of the magnetic properties of the PB nanoparticles showed unprecedented size-dependency, surface effect, and superparamagnetic properties.     

Synthesis and catalytic properties of nanoparticulate intermetallic Ga-Pd compounds

A two-step synthesis for the preparation of single-phase and nanoparticulate GaPd and GaPd(2) by coreduction of ionic metal-precursors with LiHBEt(3) in THF without additional stabilizers is described. The coreduction leads initially to the formation of Pd nanoparticles followed by a Pd-mediated reduction of Ga(3+) on their surfaces, requiring an additional annealing step. The majority of the intermetallic particles have diameters of 3 and 7 nm for GaPd and GaPd(2), respectively, and unexpected narrow size distributions as determined by disk centrifuge measurements. The nanoparticles have been characterized by XRD, TEM, and chemical analysis to ensure the formation of the intermetallic compounds. Unsupported nanoparticles possess high catalytic activity while maintaining the excellent selectivity of the ground bulk materials in the semihydrogenation of acetylene. The activity could be further increased by depositing the particles on α-Al(2)O(3).     

The influence of trace water concentration on iron oxide nanoparticle size

The size of iron oxide nanoparticles, prepared from the thermal decomposition of Fe(CO)(5) in a high boiling solvent in the presence of oleic acid, is affected by water concentration, giving particles from sizes of 5.6 nm to as low as 2.2 nm.     

Iron oxyhydroxide colloid formation by gamma-radiolysis

Gamma-irradiation of deaerated aqueous solutions containing FeSO(4) leads to the formation of uniform-sized colloidal particles of γ-FeOOH. At short irradiation times, or in solutions with a low initial [Fe(2+)](0), spherical particles with a size less than 10 nm are formed. These primary particles grow to form a dendritic structure upon longer irradiation, and the final size of the large particles is ～60 nm with a very narrow size distribution. Further prolonged irradiation does not change the final particle size. The narrow size distribution is attributed to rapid homogeneous radiolytic oxidation of soluble Fe(2+) to relatively insoluble Fe(3+) hydroxides [Fe(H(2)O)(6-n)(OH)(n)](3-n) leading to particle nucleation by spontaneous condensation. These primary particles then grow into γ-FeOOH particles with a dendritic structure. The final size reached at long times is regulated by the steady-state redox conditions established during long-term irradiation at the aqueous-solid interface.     

Fe3O4-LiMo3Se3 nanoparticle clusters as superparamagnetic nanocompasses

A scaleable chemical approach to functional nanoscale analogues of the magnetic compasses in magnetotactic bacteria is described. LiMo(3)Se(3)-Fe(3)O(4) nanowire-nanoparticle composites were synthesized by a reaction of 3-iodopropionic acid treated LiMo(3)Se(3) nanowire bundles with oleic acid-stabilized Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles of 2.8, 5.3, and 12.5 nm size in tetrahydrofuran. Transmission electron micrographs show that the composite consists of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles attached to the surfaces of the 4-6 nm thick nanowire bundles. UV/vis spectra reveal absorptions from the nanowire (506 nm) and magnetite components (280-450 nm), and IR spectra show characteristic bands for the propionic acid linkers and for the residual oleic acid ligands on the magnetite particles. In the presence of excess oleic acid, the nanocomposites undergo rapid disassembly, suggesting that Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles are bonded to nanowires via carboxylate groups from the linkers. Ultrasonication of a dispersion of the composite in THF produces individual LiMo(3)Se(3)-Fe(3)O(4) clusters, which are 340 +/- 107 nm long and 20 +/- 5 nm thick, depending on the sonication time and Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticle size. Field cooled and zero-field cooled magnetization measurements reveal that the blocking temperature (T(B) = 100 K) of the clusters with 5.3 nm Fe(3)O(4) is increased as compared to the free nanoparticles (T(B) = 30 K). Directional dipolar interactions in the clusters lead to magnetic anisotropy, which makes it possible to align the clusters in a magnetic field (900 Oe).     

Synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles using chitosan and starch templates

Natural polymers like chitosan and starch have been employed as templates for the preparation of iron oxide nanoparticles. The templates offer selective binding sites for Fe(II) under aqueous conditions. Controlled drying and subsequent removal of the template backbone enables the synthesis of spatially separated iron oxide nanoparticles. The crystalline character of the iron oxide and near narrow particle size distribution pattern have been confirmed through powder XRD, Photon Correlation Spectroscopy, and TEM measurements. The crystallite sizes of the particles were found to be 26–35 nm irrespective of the nature of the template.     

Hybrid materials based on polymethylsilsesquioxanes containing Fe,Pt, and Fe–Pt metallic nanoparticles

New hybrid materials based on Pt, Fe, and Pt–Fe nanoparticles stabilized in a matrix of polymethylsilsesquioxane nanogel and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) were prepared. Metal vapor synthesis was used to produce mono- and bimetallic nanoparticles. It was shown that organosilicon nanogel effectively stabilizes Pt nanoparticles with an average size of 0.9 nm. Using the nanogel results in the formation of superparamagnetic Fe particles 3–5 nm in size that consist of ferromagnetic Fe⁰ core and antiferromagnetic shells of Fe oxides. It is established that using an organosilicon matrix in the formation of Pt-Fe/UHMWPE systems helps reduce the average particle size of Fe in the material from 6.5 to 4.5 nm and narrow their particle size distribution. The composition, magnetic and electronic characteristics of the nanocomposites are studied via transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, XANES, and EXAFS.     

One-step synthesis of core(Cr)/shell(gamma-Fe(2)O(3)) nanoparticles

Core(Cr)/shell(gamma-Fe(2)O(3)) nanoparticles were synthesized by mixing Fe(CO)(5) and Cr(CO)(6) in the 9:1 ratio. These particles exhibit narrow size distribution with 13.5 nm as mean diameter and uniform spherical shape. The TEM image, which is in good agreement with the synchrotron powder XRD pattern, reveals the heterogeneous nature (core/shell structure). The analysis of the pattern reveals gamma-Fe(2)O(3) structure and a metal crystal structure. Mossbauer spectra, which support the superparamagnetic behavior determined by H-M measurement, do not show any traceable amount of Fe(0). This suggests that the metal component is Cr. EELS analysis and iron mapping suggest controlled stoichiometry and also confirm a core made of Cr and a shell made of gamma-Fe(2)O(3).     

"Nanocasting": using SBA-15 silicas as hard templates to obtain ultrasmall monodispersed gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles

This work describes the use of mesoporous SBA-15 silicas as hard templates for the size-controlled synthesis of oxide nanoparticles, with the pores acting as nanoscale reactors. This fundamental work is mainly aimed at understanding unresolved issues concerning the occurrence and size dependence of phase transitions in oxide nanocrystals. Aqueous solutions of Fe(NO3)3*9H2O are deposited inside the pores of SBA-15 silicas with mesopore diameters of 4.3, 6.6, and 9.5 nm. By calcination, the nitrate salt transforms into FeOx oxides. The XRD peaks of nanocrystals are broad and overlapping, resulting in ambiguities attributed to a given allotropic variety of Fe2O3 (alpha, epsilon, or gamma) or Fe3O4. The association of XRD, SAED, and Raman information is necessary to solve these ambiguities. The metastable gamma-Fe2O3 variety is selectively formed at low Fe/Si atomic ratio (ca. 0.20) and when a low calcination temperature is used (773 or 873 K followed by quenching to room temperature once the targeted temperature is reached). The small size dispersion of the patterned nanoparticles, suggested on a local scale by TEM, is confirmed statistically by magnetic measurements. The nanoparticles have a superparamagnetic behavior around room temperature. Their magnetic moments (from 220 to 370 mB), their sizes (from 4.0 to 4.8 nm), and their blocking temperatures (from 36 to 58 K) increase with the silica template mesopore diameter. Their magnetic properties are compared to those of standard gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles of similar size, obtained by coprecipitation in water and stabilized by a citrate coating.     

Synthesis and characterization of bracelet-like magnetic nanorings consisting of Ag-Fe3O4 bi-component nanoparticles

Stable bracelet-like magnetic nanorings, formed by Ag-Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles with an average size around 40 nm, have been successfully prepared in large scale by means of reducing Ag(+) and Fe(3+) simultaneously under mild conditions. In the reaction, tiny grains of silver are used as seeds to prompt small Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles to grow larger, which is essential to enhance the magnetic dipole-dipole interactions, while only superparamagnetic Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles (about 10 nm in size) can be obtained in the absence of Ag seeds. The XRD, TEM, SAED and the EDS line scan data reveal that these nanoparticles are in the core-shell structure. These magnetic Ag-Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles assembled into nanorings by magnetic dipole-dipole interactions with a diameter of 100-200 nm. The saturation magnetization of the nanorings is 39.5 emu g(-1) at room temperature. The MRI images indicate that these kind of nanorings have the potential application in diagnostics as a T(2) MRI contrast agent.     

Supercritical Propanol-Water Synthesis and Comprehensive Size Characterisation of Highly Crystalline anatase TiO2 Nanoparticles

Highly crystalline anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles have been synthesised in less than 1 min in a supercritical propanol-water mixture using a continuous flow reactor. The synthesis parameter space (T, P, concentration) has been explored and the average particle size can be accurately controlled within 10-18 nm with narrow size distributions (2-3 nm). At subcritical conditions amorphous products are obtained, whereas a broad range of T and P in the supercritical regime gives 11-14 nm particles. At high temperature and pressure, the particles size increase to 18 nm. The nanoparticles have been extensively characterised with powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) with excellent agreement on size and size distribution parameters. The SAXS analysis suggests disk-shaped particles with diameters that are approximately double the height. For comparison, a series of conventional autoclave sol-gel syntheses have been carried out. These also produce phase-pure anatase nanoparticles, but with much broader size distributions and at much longer synthesis times (hours). The study demonstrates that synthesis in supercritical fluids is a very promising method for manipulating the size and size distribution of nanoparticles, thus removing one of the key limitations in many applications of nanomaterials.     

Synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles in a polyimide matrix

A monolayer of gamma-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles embedded in a polyimide (PI) matrix was fabricated by oxidizing an Fe metal film between two PI precursor layers. There was a critical Fe thickness ( approximately 7 nm) above which a continuous layer of gamma-Fe(2)O(3) film was formed in the PI film. Below the critical Fe thickness, the oxide film broke up into fine particles whose size was approximately 8 nm with narrow size distribution. It was further shown that these nanoparticles could have metallic cores, surrounded by an oxide layer. This method offers a unique way of covering a large surface area with fine magnetic oxide nanoparticles for potential application in high-density data-storage media.     

Liquid foam as a template for the synthesis of iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticles

Liquid foams have been used as a template to prepare iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticles. This is achieved by a process of electrostatic entrapment of Fe2+/Fe3+ ions in the foam stabilized by the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate followed by the in situ hydrolysis of the metal ions. Infrared and selected area electron diffraction measurements suggest the formation of a mixture of beta-FeO(OH) and gamma-FeO(OH) crystallographic phases after the in situ hydrolysis of the metal ions in the foam template. Transmission electron microscopy analysis of the powders obtained from the foam indicates that the particles are fairly monodisperse with an average size of around 50 nm. Scanning electron microscopy pictures reveal that the particles form loosely bound aggregates of around 300 nm. After the powders obtained in the foam are annealed at 400 degrees C, X-ray diffraction measurements show that the FeO(OH) particles are converted to alpha-Fe2O3. The mechanistic aspects of metal ion hydrolysis in a foam are discussed, and some of the advantages of this method vis-à-vis the normal solution-based methods are outlined.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Self-assembly of Gold-coated Iron Nanoparticles

Due to their small size (1-100 nm), nanoparticles exhibit novel materials properties that differ considerably from those of the bulk solid state. Especially in recent years, the interests in nanometer-scale magnetic particles are growing based on their potential application as high density magnetic storage media. A unique reverse micelle method has been developed to prepare gold-coated iron nanoparticles. XRD, UV/vis, TEM and magnetic measurements are used to characterize the nanocomposites. XRD only gives FCC paterns of gold for the obtained nanoparticles. There is a red shift and broadening of Au@Fe colloid relative to pure gold colloid in the absorption spectra. TEM results show that the average size of Au@Fe nanoparticle is about 10 nm. These nanoparticles self-assembled into wires in micron level under a 0.5 T magnetic field. Magnetic measurements show that the particles are superparamagnetic with a blocking temperature of 42 K. Coercivity of the obtained nanoparticles decreases with the measuring temperature, which are 730 Oe,320 Oe and 0 at 2 K, 10 K and 300 K, respectively.     

Growing ZnO crystals on magnetite nanoparticles

We report herein on the oriented growth of ZnO crystals on magnetite nanoparticles. The ZnO crystals were grown by hydrolyzing a supersaturated aqueous solution of zinc nitrate. The seeds for the growth were magnetite nanoparticles with a diameter of 5.7 nm and a narrow size distribution. Hollowed ZnO hexagons of 0.15 microm width and 0.5 microm length filled with Fe(3)O(4) particles were obtained. HR-TEM (high-resolution transmission electron microscopy) and selected-area EDS (energy-dispersive spectroscopy) show that the nanoparticles are homogenously spread in the ZnO tubes. Zeta potential measurements were employed to understand the relationship between the nanoparticles and the oriented growth of the ZnO crystals. The results show that the surfactants induced the directional growth of the ZnO crystals.     

Synthesis of tin and tin oxide nanoparticles of low size dispersity for application in gas sensing

Nanocomposite core-shell particles that consist of a Sn0 core surrounded by a thin layer of tin oxides have been prepared by thermolysis of [(Sn(NMe2)2)2] in anisole that contains small, controlled amounts of water. The particles were characterized by means of electronic microscopies (TEM, HRTEM, SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies, photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The TEM micrographs show spherical nanoparticles, the size and size distribution of which depends on the initial experimental conditions of temperature, time, water concentration, and tin precursor concentration. Nanoparticles of 19 nm median size and displaying a narrow size distribution have been obtained with excellent yield in the optimized conditions. HRTEM, XPS, XRD and Mossbauer studies indicate the composite nature of the particles that consist of a well-crystallized tin beta core of approximately equals 11 nm covered with a layer of approximately equals 4 nm of amorphous tin dioxide and which also contain quadratic tin monoxide crystallites. The thermal oxidation of this nanocomposite yields well-crystallized nanoparticles of SnO2* without coalescence or size change. XRD patterns show that the powder consists of a mixture of two phases: the tetragonal cassiterite phase, which is the most abundant, and an orthorhombic phase. In agreement with the small SnO2 particle size, the relative intensity of the adsorbed dioxygen peak observed on the XPS spectrum is remarkable, when compared with that observed in the case of larger SnO2 particles. This is consistent with electrical conductivity measurements, which demonstrate that this material is highly sensitive to the presence of a reducing gas such as carbon monoxide.     

Surfactant-assisted one-pot synthesis of superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticle clusters with tunable cluster size and magnetic field sensitivity

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have many potential biomedical applications. Improvements in their magnetic properties and solubility are necessary for these applications to realize their full potential. In this study, MNPs in the form of raspberry-like magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) nanoparticle clusters, consisting of tiny Fe(3)O(4) particles with a diameter of approximately 20 nm, were prepared under hydrothermal conditions at 200 °C in the presence of 3,4-dihydroxyhydroxysinnamic acid (DHCA). The primary particles were connected by DHCA molecules to form the clusters, which were well dispersed in water media because a COOH group from DHCA appeared on their surfaces. The cluster size could be tuned from 50 to 400 nm without changing the primary particle size by controlling the reaction time. Therefore, all prepared clusters displayed superparamagnetic properties at room temperature. In addition, the sensitivity of Fe(3)O(4) to an external magnetic field could also be controlled by the cluster size.     

Fabrication of zinc ferrite nanocrystals by sonochemical emulsification and evaporation: observation of magnetization and its relaxation at low temperature

A new ultrasound assisted emulsion (consisting of rapeseed oil and aqueous solution of Zn(2+) and Fe(2+) acetates) and evaporation protocol has been developed for the synthesis of zinc ferrite (ZnFe(2)O(4)) nanoparticles with narrow size distribution. The as-synthesized sample consisted of crystalline zinc ferrite particles with an average diameter of approximately 4 nm, whereas the average size of the heat-treated ferrite particles increases to approximately 12 nm. To remove the small amount of oil present on the surface of the as-synthesized ferrite sample, heat treatment was carried out at 350 degrees C for 3 h. The as-synthesized and heat-treated ferrites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), TGA/DTA, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) techniques. Magnetic measurements show that the nanocrystalline ZnFe(2)O(4), prepared through this technique, is either at par with those obtained in other cases or even more improved. Both the as-synthesized and heat-treated samples reveal relaxation of magnetization. Our study also shows that one can tailor the magnetization and relaxation pattern by suitably controlling the particle size of the nanocrystalline ZnFe(2)O(4). The key features of this method are avoiding (a) the cumbersome conditions that exist in the conventional methods, (b) the usage of necessary additive components (stabilizers or surfactants, precipitants), and (c) calcination requirements. In addition, rapeseed oil has replaced organic nonpolar solvents used in earlier studies. As a whole, this simple straightforward sonochemical approach results in a better pure phase system of nanoferrite with improved magnetic properties.