J. Phys. Chem. C, 112 (4), 1008 -1018, 2008. 10.1021/jp076871d S1932-7447(07)06871-9
Web Release Date: January 9, 2008

Copyright © 2008 American Chemical Society

From Nanocrystals to Nanorods: New Iron Oxide-Silica Nanocomposites from Metallorganic Precursors

Serena A. Corr,* Yurii K. Gun'ko,* Alexios P. Douvalis, Munuswamy Venkatesan, Robert D. Gunning, and Peter D. Nellist

School of Chemistry, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland, Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Department of Physics, University of Ioannina, P.O. Box 1186, 45110, Ioannina, Greece, School of Physics, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland, and Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH, United Kingdom

Received: August 28, 2007

In Final Form: October 23, 2007

Abstract:

Sol-gel one-step processing of the Fe(II) alkoxide [Fe(OBut)2(THF)]2 and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) at various ratios afforded new silica-iron oxide magnetic nanocomposite materials, ranging in shape from nanocrystals to nanorods depending on the percentage of TEOS added. The nanocomposites have been investigated by Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, magnetization measurements, transmission electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. These silica-coated magnetic materials might have a range of potential applications in biotechnology, medicine (e.g., as magnetic fluids for MRI), catalysis, and magnetic storage.

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