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Study of the growth of hydrophilic iron oxide nanoparticles obtained via the non-aqueous sol–gel method

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Abstract

The growth process of hydrophilic iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized via the non-aqueous sol–gel method using TEG as high-boiling solvent has been characterized. A model of the growth process is presented, based on a combination of analytical methods, especially XRD, SAXS and TGA. In contrast to previously studied particles synthesized in benzyl alcohol, which grow via nucleation, particles synthesized in TEG grow via a sol–gel-like process. In a first step, an amorphous network is formed, and subsequently, during the compaction of the network, crystalline particles are obtained. The influence of the structural properties on the magnetic behavior was identified by combining various spectroscopic methods.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Prof. G. Goya and G. Antorrena Pardo and A. Ibarra Galián, University of Zaragoza, Spain, for the XPS and TEM analysis. Helpful discussions with Prof. E. Baggio Saitovitch and Dr. J. Munevar are acknowledged. Financial support from SynFoBiA (Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering, PVZ) is gratefully acknowledged. Part of this work has been supported by PROBRAL (DAAD-CAPES).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Particle Technology and Laboratory for Emerging Nanometrology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Volkmaroder Str. 5, 38104, Braunschweig, Germany

    I.-C. Masthoff & G. Garnweitner

  2. Institute for Condensed Matter Physics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany

    M. Kraken, D. Menzel & F. J. Litterst

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  1. I.-C. Masthoff
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  2. M. Kraken
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Correspondence to G. Garnweitner.

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Masthoff, IC., Kraken, M., Menzel, D. et al. Study of the growth of hydrophilic iron oxide nanoparticles obtained via the non-aqueous sol–gel method. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 77, 553–564 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-015-3883-1

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