Magnetic properties of prussian blue modified Fe3O4 nanocubes

• Fe3O4 nanocubes in the size range 90–10 nm were synthesized.
• The highest saturation magnetization of 90 emu/g was achieved with 90 nm cubes.
• The Fe3O4 nanoparticles were surface modified with prussian blue (PB).
• Smaller particle size showed better attachment of prussian blue.
• The attachment of prussian blue with Fe3O4 is explained based on surface charge.

Size controlled cubic Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the size range 90–10 nm were synthesized by varying the ferric ion concentration using the oxidation method. A bimodal size distribution was found without ferric ion concentration and the monodispersity increased with higher concentration. The saturation magnetization decreased from 90 to 62 emu/g when the particle size is reduced to 10 nm. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles with average particle sizes 10 and 90 nm were surface modified with prussian blue. The attachment of prussian blue with Fe3O4 was found to depend on the concentration of HCl and the particle size. The saturation magnetization of prussian blue modified Fe3O4 varied from 10 to 80 emu/g depending on the particle size. The increased tendency for the attachment of prussian blue with smaller particle size was explained based on the surface charge. The prussian blue modified magnetite nanoparticles could be used as a radiotoxin remover in detoxification applications.

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