One-step solvothermal synthesis of epichlorohydrin-modified magnetic Fe_3O_4 microspheres in ethylene glycol

摘要

Surface modification is crucial for downstream applications of Fe_3O_4 microspheres (e.g., bio-separation, catalysis and drug delivery). In the present work, monodisperse magnetic Fe_3O_4 microspheres of ca. 0.42 μm are prepared by one-step epichlorohydrin (ECH)-modified solvothermal synthesis in ethylene glycol. ECH is grafted onto the surface of Fe_3O_4 upon in-situ dehydrochlorination under basic conditions. The resulting surface groups (e.g., 1,2-dihydroxylpropyl) not only prevent Fe_3O_4 microspheres from aggregation, but also serve as anchoring sites for further functionalization, e.g., bind 14.9 mg/g of Cu~(2+) by releasing H~+ into the aqueous solution.