An easy fabrication of monodisperse oleic acid-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles

An easy route is described for the synthesis of monodisperse oleic acid-coated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with uniform size and shape via a thermal decomposition of Fe(acac)₃ in the presence of oleic acid (OA). The prepared Fe₃O₄ samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The results show that the resulting OA-coated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles have an average diameter of about 24 nm and an OA layer, around 3 nm in thickness. The magnetic saturation value of the prepared OA-coated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles is determined to be 78.68 emu/g, indicating a well-established superparamagnetic property.     

Synthesis and characterization of Co3O4/RuO2 composite nanofibers fabricated by an electrospinning method

Co₃O₄-RuO₂ composite nanofibers (NFs) were synthesized by an electrospinning method and were calcinated at 400°C for 1 hr in air. Scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) examinations show that all the synthesized NFs have uniform surface morphology and their diameters are in the range of ~ 30-~70 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show that crystalline Co₃O₄ phase and RuO₂ phase coexist in the composite NF matrix which is confirmed by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. In addition, the HRTEM energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping results show that the Co₃O₄ and RuO₂ phases are uniformly distributed across the NF matrix.     

Au/Fe3O4磁性纳米粒子的合成及表征

报道了一种合成具有巯基官能团修饰的Au/Fe_3O_4磁性纳米粒子的新方法。采用共沉淀法制备Fe_3O_4磁性纳米颗粒,并在此基础上用聚(烯丙胺)溶液还原HAuCl4,制得Au/Fe_3O_4磁性核壳纳米颗粒,再用3-巯基-1-丙磺酸钠修饰Au/Fe_3O_4磁性纳米粒子,最后得到具有巯基官能团稳定的Au/Fe_3O_4磁性纳米粒子。通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线能谱仪(EDS)、X射线衍射仪(XRD)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、振动样品磁强计(VSM)分别对产物的微观结构及磁性特征进行表征。     

Synthesis of nanostructured M/Fe3O4 (M = Ag,Cu) composites using hexamethylentetramine and their electrocatalytic properties

Nanoscaled Ag/Fe₃O₄ hybrids with different Ag contents and Cu/Fe₃O₄ nanoshpere and microsphere were successfully synthesized with assistance of sodium citrate and (CH₂)₆N₄ via a hydrothermal process. The as-prepared samples were identified and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. All samples were used as electrocatalysts modified on a glassy carbon electrode for p-nitrophenol reduction in a basic solution. The catalytic activity of Ag/Fe₃O₄ samples increased first and then decreased by increasing Ag content from 0% to 8%, and the one with 6% Ag displayed the highest catalytic activity. All the Cu/Fe₃O₄ samples exhibited enhanced catalytic activity by comparison with a glassy carbon electrode, and the one prepared with the molar ratio of Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, citrate anion, and (CH₂)₆N₄ with 1:1:3:5 exhibited the highest catalytic activity.     

Effect of chromium substitution on structure and magnetic properties of Bi2Fe4O9

Orthorhombic Bi₂Fe_4 − xCr_xO₉ (x = 0.0, 0.25, and 0.75) nanoplatelets were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. The structure, morphology, and magnetic properties of the obtained powders have been characterized. Calculation of the lattice parameters of Bi₂Fe_4 − xCr_xO₉, as well as bond lengths and angles, was carried out by X-ray diffraction Rietveld refinement. The volumes of the metal-oxygen tetrahedra and octahedra were calculated to be sequentially increasing as the Cr doping level increases. The samples undergo an antiferromagnetic transition at 250 ± 5 K. The magnetic moments of the samples increase with higher Cr doping level. The 3d electron spin state for Fe³⁺ in the as-prepared samples is different, which is possibly due to the distortion of Fe-O tetrahedra and octahedra in the crystal structure after chromium substitution.     

Preparation of Fe3O4/PVA nanofibers via combining in-situ composite with electrospinning

A novel approach, combining in-situ composite method with electrospinning, was used to prepare high magnetic Fe₃O₄/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite nanofibers. Fe₃O₄ magnetic fluids were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method in the presence of 6 wt.% PVA aqueous solution. PVA was used as stabilizer and polymeric matrix. The resulting Fe₃O₄/PVA composite nanofibers were characterized with field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD), respectively. These composite fibers showed a uniform and continuous morphology, with the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles embedded in the fibers. Magnetization test confirmed that the composite fiber showed a high saturated magnetization (M_s = 2.42 emµ·g^-1) although only 4 wt.% content.     

Effects of Fe2O3 doping on the microstructure and piezoelectric properties of 0.55Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.45Pb(Zr0.3Ti0.7)O3 ceramics

0.55Pb(Ni_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-0.45Pb(Zr_0.3Ti_0.7)O₃(PNN-PZT) ceramics with different concentration of xFe₂O₃ doping (where x = 0.0, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6 mol%) were synthesized by the conventional solid state sintering technique. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that all specimens are a pure perovskite phase without pyrochlore phase. The density and grain size of Fe-doped ceramics tend to increase slightly with increasing concentration of Fe₂O₃. Comparing with the undoped ceramics, the piezoelectric, ferroelectric and dielectric properties of the Fe-doped PNN-PZT specimens are significantly improved. Properties of the piezoelectric constant as high as d₃₃ ~ 956 pC/N, the electromechanical coupling factor k_p ~ 0.74, and the dielectric constant ε_r ~ 6095 are achieved for the specimen with 1.2 mol% Fe₂O₃ doping sintered at 1200 °C for 2 h.     

Effect of annealing on characteristics of Ni48Fe12Cr40/Ni80Fe20 bilayer films deposited on Si(1 0 0)/SiO2 by electron beam evaporation

Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀(7 nm)/Ni₈₀Fe₂₀(40 nm) bilayer films and Ni₈₀Fe₂₀(40 nm) monolayer films were deposited at ambient temperature on Si(1 0 0)/SiO₂ substrates by electron beam evaporation. The effect of annealing on the structure, composition, magnetization and magnetoresistance of the Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀/Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ bilayer films was investigated. The structure of the Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀/Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ bilayer films remains stable for annealing temperature up to 280 °C. For the as-deposited bilayer film the introducing of the Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀ underlayer promotes both the [1 1 1] texture and grain growth in the Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ layer. The annealing promotes the grain growth of the Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀/Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ bilayer films when the annealing temperature exceeds 280 °C. After annealing at a temperature over 280 °C, Cr atoms inside the Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀ layer diffuse into the Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ layer and segregate on the surface of the Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ layer. The Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀ underlayer as a seed layer can enhance the anisotropic magnetoresistance ratio of the Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ layer at a annealing temperature up to 280 °C compared with Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ monolayer film. After annealing at a temperature over 280 °C, however, the anisotropic magnetoresistance ratio of the Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ monolayer films exceeds that of the Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀/Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ bilayer films. For all annealing temperatures, the coercivities of the Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀/Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ bilayer films are smaller than those of the Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ monolayer films.     

A facile surfactant-free fabrication of single-crystalline truncated Fe3O4 cubes

Single-crystalline truncated Fe₃O₄ cubes with active basal facets have been successfully fabricated through a facile surfactant-free hydrothermal route. The presented materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), selection area electron diffraction (SAED) and magnetic property measurement system (MPMS). The results showed that all products are Fe₃O₄ with face-center-cubic (FCC) structure. The morphology of Fe₃O₄ depends on the contents of hydroxide ions, hydrazine hydrate and reaction time. The well-defined truncated Fe₃O₄ cubes with active basal facets {1 0 0} were fabricated when the pH value, the hydrazine hydrate content and reaction time are 10, 10 mL and 24 h, respectively. The as-prepared Fe₃O₄ cubes exhibit excellent magnetic properties, which endow the materials with great potential applications in many fields.     

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of Co3O4 nanofibers as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Co₃O₄ nanofibers as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries were prepared from sol precursors by using electrospinning. The morphology, structure and electrochemical properties of Co₃O₄ nanofibers were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and charge-discharge experiments. The results show that Co₃O₄ nanofibers possessed typical spinel structure with average diameter of 200 nm. The initial capacity of Co₃O₄ nanofibers was 1336 mAhg^− 1 and the capacity reached 604 mAhg^− 1 up to 40 cycles. It was suggested that the high reversible capacity could be ascribed to the high surface area offered by the nanofibers' structure.     

Synthesis of porous NiFe2O4 microparticles and its catalytic properties for methane combustion

In this paper, we report the obtention of agglomerate porous NiFe₂O₄ microparticles type-spinel with uniform size of 1-2 μm by the oxalic acid co-precipitation method. The structure, morphology and surface of microparticles as-synthesized were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. Fixed bed reactor test confirmed that the NiFe₂O₄ microparticles exhibit a good catalytic activity for methane combustion with the methane light-off temperature below 350 °C. XPS spectrum revealed that the excellent catalytic activity may be attributed to the surface oxygen vacancies arising from the peculiar inverse spinel structure with octahedral (Oh) site occupied by Fe²⁺ and Ni²⁺ cations.     

Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles synthesis from tailings by ultrasonic chemical co-precipitation

The aim of this study is to develop a new method for the preparation of high-value, environmentally friendly products from tailings. Magnetic Fe₃O₄ nano-powder was synthesized by ultrasonic-assisted chemical co-precipitation utilizing high purity iron separated from iron ore tailings by acidic leaching method. Magnetite particles with 15 nm average diameter were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer. Surfactant influence on particles shape and size was investigated. Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles coated with C₁₂H₂₅OSO₃Na exhibit better dispersion and uniform size. The product consisted of ferrous ferrite (Fe3O4) nanosized cubic particles with a high level of crystallinity and exhibit super-paramagnetism based on magnetization curves lacking hysteresis.     

A true nanocomposite: Single crystalline Au nanoparticles on single crystalline Fe3O4 nanoparticles

An Au/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite catalyst was fabricated through a simple deposition-precipitation method. The Au/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite is a true nanocomposite that has single crystalline Au nanoparticles supported on single crystalline Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. Lattice fringes from both Au and Fe₃O₄ single nanoparticles were simultaneously observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). This nanocomposite catalyst showed much high activity in low temperature CO oxidation reaction. The Au/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite catalyst reaches 100% CO conversion at 40 °C. In comparison, Au/commercial Fe₃O₄ catalyst needs 375 °C to convert CO. This Au/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite is an ideal sample to study synergetic effect between the catalyst and the support at nanoscale.     

Synthesis of K6Ta10.8O30 nanowires by molten salt technique

The synthesis of single crystalline K₆Ta_10.8O₃₀ nanowires by molten salt method was reported for the first time. X-ray diffraction results indicated that the as-prepared products were pure phase K₆Ta_10.8O₃₀. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy results showed that the products consisted of wire-like nanostructures with 100-300 nm in diameter and several micrometers in length. High resolution electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction results indicated that the K₆Ta_10.8O₃₀ nanowires were single crystalline with a growth direction of [0 0 1]. The ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance measurement showed that the band gap of the nanowires was about 4.1 eV. The effects of reaction temperature, time, and weight ratio of the precursor (mixture of K₂CO₃ and Ta₂O₅) to KCl salt on the morphology of the products were investigated.     

Synthesis and electrocatalytic property of mono-dispersed Ag/Fe3O4 composite micro-sphere

One-step reaction was designed to synthesize mono-dispersed Ag/Fe₃O₄ micro-sphere with different Ag content via a facile and easily controlled hydrothermal method without use of any surfactant. The phases and composition analysis of the as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The morphology of the samples was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The results revealed that the Ag/Fe₃O₄ composite samples with different Ag content were micro-spheres with almost the identical size of 175 nm or so in diameter. The electrocatalytic activity of the resultant samples modified on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for p-nitrophenol reduction in a basic solution was investigated. The results indicated that all the samples exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic activity for p-nitrophenol reduction, and the sample with 3% Ag exhibited the highest electrocatalytic one.     

Effect of annealing on the characteristics of Au layers grown on the high-temperature deposited Ni50Fe50 layers

80 nm-thick Ni₅₀Fe₅₀ layers were sputter-deposited on glass substrates at 400 °C and then Au layers were sputter-deposited on the Ni₅₀Fe₅₀ layers. The Au/Ni₅₀Fe₅₀ bilayer films were annealed in a vacuum of 5×10⁻⁴ Pa from 250 to 450 °C for 30 min or 90 min. The characteristics of the Au layers were studied by Auger electron spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and a four-point probe technique. When the annealing temperature reaches 450 °C, Fe and Ni atoms diffuse markedly into the Au layer and the Fe content is more than the Ni content. When the annealing temperature is lower than 450 °C, the grain size of the Au layers does not change markedly with annealing temperature. However, as the annealing temperature reaches 450 °C, the annealing promotes the grain growth of the Au layer. As the annealing temperature exceeds 300 °C, the resistivity of the bilayer films increases with increasing annealing temperature. The diffusion of Fe and Ni atoms into the Au layer results in an increase in the resistivity of the annealed bilayer film. Large numbers of Fe and Ni atoms diffusing into the Au layer of the annealed Au/Ni₅₀Fe₅₀ bilayer film lead to a significant decrease in the lattice constant of the Au layer.     

ZnFe2O4 thin films from a single source precursor by aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition

A single source heterobimetallic complex [Fe₂(acac)₄(dmaeH)₂][ZnCl₄] (1) (acac = 2,4-pentanedionate, dmaeH = N,N-dimethylaminoethanol), was synthesized in high yield. The complex was analyzed by melting point, Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The structure of the cation was established by single crystal X-ray analysis on a derivative, [Fe₂(acac)₄(dmaeH)₂][ZnCl₃(THF)]₂·THF (1a) (THF = tetrahydrofuran). TGA analysis showed that complex (1) undergoes facile thermal decomposition at 450 °C to give ZnFe₂O₄ residue. In-house designed aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition equipment was used to deposit thin films of ZnFe₂O₄ on fluorine doped SnO₂ coated conducting glass substrate at 450 °C. X-ray diffraction analysis proved the formation of crystalline ZnFe₂O₄ phase and scanning electron microscopy revealed the film morphology with well defined crystalline particles evenly distributed in the range 150-200 nm. The indirect and direct bandgap energies of the thin films were estimated to be 1.76 and 2.10 eV, respectively.     

Improvement in dielectric properties of Al2O3-doped Li0.30Cr0.02Ni0.68O ceramics

Li_0.30Cr_0.02Ni_0.68O giant dielectric ceramics doped with Al₂O₃ were prepared by solid-state reaction via sol-gel process. The sintered samples were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, and dielectric properties were also investigated. All doped samples showed the single phase of cubic rock-salt structure NiO. With increasing Al₂O₃ content, the crystallite size and grain size decreased, possibly due to an occurrence of the secondary phases at grain boundaries which inhibit the grain growth. The sample with 0.2 wt.% Al₂O₃ showed nearly 7 times lower tanδ (2.37) and higher ε_r (7.25 × 10⁶) measured at 1 kHz and room temperature when compared to the pure sample.     

Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of cobalt oxide doped ZnFe2O4-Fe2O3-ZnO mixed oxides

Novel cobalt oxide doped ZnFe₂O₄-Fe₂O₃-ZnO mixed oxides with the Zn/Fe molar ratio of 1/2 were synthesized with a citric acid complex method. The effects of cobalt oxide and calcination temperature on phase composition and photocatalytic activity of the mixed oxides were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that there were mainly ZnFe₂O₄, α-Fe₂O₃, amorphous ZnO and Fe₂O₃ in the 6 mol% cobalt oxide doped products calcined at 500 °C. 5-10 mol% cobalt oxide doping could significantly enhance the formation of ZnFe₂O₄ and altered the phase composition of the mixed oxides. Experimental results showed that cobalt oxide doping could remarkably improve the photocatalytic activity of the mixed oxides for phenol degradation. The 6 mol% cobalt oxide doped mixed oxides calcined at 500 °C exhibited better photocatalytic activity as compared with other samples.