Structural and Magnetic Properties of Triethylene Glycol Stabilized Monodisperse Fe3O4 Nanoparticles

Abstract

In this present study, a facile synthetic route was developed to prepare super-paramagnetic Fe 3 O 4 MNPs directly via a one-pot approach. In this synthesis, only one iron containing compound and instead of high-boiling-point solvents, water-soluble tetraethylene glycol (TEG) was used as both the solvent and surfactant to control the particle growth and to prevent the aggregation of particles. Crystallite, particle, and magnetic core size are in good agreement with each other. The VSM measurement shows the superparamagnetic property of the product. The existence of TEG layer on the surface of the Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis. The monodisperse morphology of the product was presented via TEM analysis. Due to the monodisperse morphology, superparamagnetic property, and small particle size, the product may have a potential application in biomedical research field.

Influence of synthesis experimental parameters on the formation of magnetite nanoparticles prepared by polyol method

“…This procedure represents an important step for the utilization of monodisperse magnetite nanoparticles in biomedicine applications. Other works studying the characteristics of the obtained nanoparticles were reported after the work of Cai and Wan [21][22][23][24][25][26]. MiguelSancho et al [24] discussed the stability of nanoparticles in relation with agglomeration process by using either dimercaptosuccinicacid (DMSA) or chemical modification of TEG coating.…”

Aqueous Superparamagnetic Magnetite Dispersions with Ultrahigh Initial Magnetic Susceptibilities

“…The larger size may also be attributed to a lower ratio of capping agent TEG-to-Fe­(OAc) 2 as the capping agent arrests growth in addition to providing steric stabilization against aggregation. In contrast, the lower supersaturation for lower precursor-to-TEG ratios as presented in Figure a–c and Table S1 would lead to generation of a large number of nuclei and greater quenching of growth due to capping with TEG, thus resulting in the observed primary particles no larger than 11 nm. ,, An increase in particle size was also observed with an increase in precursor-to-stabilizer ratio in the synthesis of iron oxide in benzyl ether, whereby the aliphatic amine stabilizing ligand was a mild reducing agent that increased the nucleation rate . Additional examples of this precursor-to-stabilizer ratio effect include citrate stabilized precipitation of FeSO 4 and coprecipitation of iron chlorides in aqueous media …”

“…Synthesis of TEG-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoclusters. IONPs were synthesized by modifying the procedure of Gunay et al 26 IONPs were prepared by the thermal decomposition of Fe(OAc) 2 (light brown powder) in the presence of TEG at 210 °C in an inert argon atmosphere with an overhead mechanical stirrer (15 mm × 46 mm PTFE blade, PTFE stirrer bearing). The mechanical stirrer was used to avoid aggregation that could take place in the case of a submerged magnetic stir bar.…”

“…For the two lower molar ratios of Fe(OAc) 2 -to-TEG, the primary particle size was only ∼10.8 nm, comparable to those reported previously at similar precursor:TEG ratios. 25,26 For the highest molar ratio of 1:12 the volume average diameter reached 15.8 ± 1.5 nm (Figure 1c), still small enough to be in the superparamagnetic regime. For a range of Fe(OAc) 2 initial masses, the primary particle diameter ranged from 14.3 to 17.6 for samples A−C in Table 1 and Figure S4.…”

“…24 The strong coordination of the concentrated polyol solvent to the Fe cations arrests growth and provides steric stabilization to control the particle size distribution. For triethylene glycol with a high boiling point of 285 °C, Cai and Wan 24 and Grabs et al 25 produced ∼7 and 8 nm magnetite primary NPs, respectively, at 280 °C from Fe(acac) 3 , and Gunay et al, 26 9.5 nm NPs from iron(II) acetate (Fe(OAc) 2 . To achieve substantially larger values of D p to further increase χ o , exquisite control of the nucleation and growth will be required to maintain high crystallinity and prevent formation of a disordered nonmagnetic layer on the surface.…”