The film-forming behavior on the interface between air and hydrosol of Fe2O3 nanoparticles

The film forming behavior on the interface between air and hydrosol of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles was investigated by the surface pressure-time isotherms, the surface pressure-trough area isotherms, Brewster angle microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. It is found that the freshly prepared hydrosol of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles is not stable. The surface pressure increases with the aging time and finally approaches a constant, and the smaller the concentration is, the smaller the surface pressure is stabilized at and the shorter the time the hydrosol reaching stable needs. The surface pressure also increases with compression until collapsed, and the longer the hydrosol is aged, the higher the collapsing pressure is. A uniform and compact film composed of nanoparticles with an average diameter of about 2–3 nm on the air-hydrosol interface is observed by Brewster angle microscope and transmission electron microscope. Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (50672089), the Encouraging Foundation for the Scientific Research of the Excellent Young and Middleaged Scientists in Shandong Province(2006BS04034)