Green Synthesis of Size-Tunable Iron Oxides and Iron Nanoparticles in a Salt Matrix

摘要

This research is devoted for the synthesis of Fe oxide and Fe nanoparticles (NPs) via, respectively, thermal decomposition of iron(III) oleate and H-2 reduction of either iron(III) oleate or iron oxide NPs in a NaCl matrix. Lowering the weight ratios of metal precursor to NaCl and synthesis temperature results in smaller particle sizes. A higher uniformity of Fe NPs can be achieved with a two-step synthesis, that is, thermal decomposition of iron oleate followed by H-2 reduction of iron oxides, with the milling of iron oxides and NaCl prior to the reduction step. Fe NPs obtained in this study are stable in the air for long-time storage. It is found that thin oxide and C layers on the particle surface are responsible for their stability.