Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of single-crystalline Fe_3O_4 nanowires with high aspect ratio and uniformity

摘要

Uniform, ultra-thin, single-crystalline Fe_3O_4 nanowires with narrow diameter distribution centered at 15 nm and length up to several microns, were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal route with the assistance of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400. The morphologies and structure of the obtained nanowires were examined by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mossbauer spectrum, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The effect of PEG content and molecular weight on the yield and morphology of Fe_3O_4 nanowires was investigated. Saturation magnetization of Fe_3O_4 nanowires was determined to be 23.0 emu/g, which is distinctly lower than that of Fe_3O_4 nanoparticles.