Abstract
Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by injecting ferrocene vapor and oxygen into an argon/helium DC thermal plasma. Size distributions of particles in the reactor exhaust were measured online using an aerosol extraction probe interfaced to a scanning mobility particle sizer, and particles were collected on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grids and glass fiber filters for off-line characterization. The morphology, chemical and phase composition of the nanoparticles were characterized using TEM and X-ray diffraction, and the magnetic properties of the particles were analyzed with a vibrating sample magnetometer and a magnetic property measurement system. Aerosol at the reactor exhaust consisted of both single nanocrystals and small agglomerates, with a modal mobility diameter of 8-9 nm. Powder synthesized with optimum oxygen flow rate consisted primarily of magnetite (Fe3O4), and had a room-temperature saturation magnetization of 40.15 emu/g, with a coercivity and remanence of 26 Oe and 1.5 emu/g, respectively
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 519-531 |
| Journal | Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2012 |
Keywords
- multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles
- gamma-fe2o3 nanoparticles
- biomedical applications
- particle-size
- flow reactor
- rf plasma
- flame
- arc
- pressure
- functionalization