Today, an increasing number of water contaminants are being identified and measured in our water sources. In addition, as the demand on water sources grows world‐wide, cities will have to increasingly rely on water recycling, water reuse, and impaired water sources. Traditional methods of water treatment are not always effective at removing smaller water contaminants, such as heavy metals and industrial chemicals, and the increasing number and concentrations of contaminants will be more and more challenging to eliminate. Iron, an abundant element found on Earth, can be used to synthesize different structured nanoparticles, including iron metal and iron oxide morphologies. In particular, iron core‐iron oxide shell particles are known to be used for treatment of contaminated groundwater. Based on this interest in iron‐based nanoparticles and cleaning water to allow for more reusable water, we are currently investigating the interactions between synthesized core‐shell iron nanoparticles and the different organic stabilizers used during synthesis. After synthesis, these stabilizer compounds are subsequently adsorbed to the surface of the iron nanoparticles and can affect the reactivity and lifetime of the nanoparticles in an aqueous environment.
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