Monodisperse Iron Oxide Nanoparticles by Thermal Decomposition: Elucidating Particle Formation by Second-Resolved in Situ Small-Angle X-ray Scattering.

ABSTRACT: The synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) by thermal decomposition of iron precursors using oleic acid as surfactant has evolved to a state-of-the-art method to produce monodisperse, spherical NPs. The principles behind such monodisperse syntheses are well-known: the key is a separation between burst nucleation and growth phase, whereas the size of the population is set by the precursor-to-surfactant ratio. Here we follow the thermal decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl in the presence of oleic acid via in situ X-ray scattering. This method allows reaction kinetics and precursor states to be followed with high time resolution and statistical significance. Our investigation demonstrates that the final particle size is directly related to a phase of inorganic cluster formation that take

SUBMITTER: Lassenberger A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5445716 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature