Structure control synthesis of iron oxide polymorph nanoparticles through an epoxide precipitation route

Iron oxide polymorph nanoparticles (magnetite, goethite and lepidocrocite) were synthesised through a novel epoxide precipitation route. Epoxide, as a precipitating agent, induced the precipitation of iron(II) ions in the form of hydroxide through its reaction with aquocomplexes of Fe²⁺ ions. The organic intermediate, which was produced from the ring-opening reaction of epoxide, functionalised the surface of the formed precipitate in situ, resulting in the minimisation of the nanoparticles’ aggregation. Another advantage of this route is its simple procedure for the preparation of iron oxide nanoparticles with different structures and their well-defined morphology. Magnetite, goethite and lepidocrocite nanoparticles were obtained just by the pH regulation and air oxidation at room temperature.