MANUFACTURING OF SIZE CONTROLLED MAGNETITE NANOPARTICLES POTENTIALLY SUITABLE FOR THE PREPARATION OF AQUEOUS MAGNETIC FLUIDS

摘要

The effect of a biocompatible, water-soluble functionalised biopolysaccharide, carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC) on the particle size and morphology of magnetite nanoparticles (d ≤ 8 nm) synthesised in aqueous solutions has been systematically studied. Addition of the polysaccharide to the system resulted in significant decrease in the particle diameter (down to ca. 2.8 nm). The average particle size is independent of the degree of functionalisation and the molar weight of the polymer, but decreases systematically with the increasing concentration of CMC. Thus tailor made magnetite nanoparticles with 2.8 nm ≤ d ≤ 7.5 nm is possible to synthesize with addition of controlled amount of CMC to the reaction mixture.