Comparison of schemes for preparing magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared by means of coprecipitation using NH3·H2O in water and in alcohol, and using NaOH in water. A series of instruments such as SEM, TEM, HRTEM, FT-IR, XRD and VSM were used to characterize the properties of the magnetic nanoparticles. The results indicated that the magnetism of Fe3O4 nanoparticles synthesized using NH3·H2O in water was the highest, although the reaction time was the longest. The process using NaOH in water was the simplest and the reaction time was the shortest, but the particle characteristics were inferior to those of the other two methods. The mean size of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles prepared by coprecipitation in alcohol was the smallest among the three, but the nanoparticles aggregated severely. The magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were coated with oleic acid using saturated sodium oleate, and the polarity of the surface-modified nanoparticles was measured. Fe3O4 nanoparticles prepared using NH3·H2O, not NaOH, could be coated successfully and thoroughly.