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Tuneable optical properties of Fe2O3 magnetic nanoparticles synthesized from Ferritin

  • Original Paper: Characterization methods of sol-gel and hybrid materials
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Abstract

The optical properties of a precursor dry Ferritin powder and its iron oxide derivatives were studied using UV–visible spectroscopy. The iron oxide derivatives were synthesized by applying controlled heat treatment up to 700 °C. The optical properties show dramatic variation in absorption spectra through a large shift in absorption band edge as a function of annealing temperature. On one side (40 ℃) we have precursor Ferritin powder and on the other side (700 ℃) a crystalline hematite phase along with disordered phases at intermediate temperatures. Energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis and XRD reveal that crystallization and thermal destruction of organic cage are inter-related. As ferrihydrite complexes inside the Ferritin cavity go through solidification from amorphous Fe2O3 to hematite crystalline phase (α-Fe2O3), the heterogeneity of electronic excitation processes occurs through ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT), pair excitation and ligand field (d-d) transition. Strong magnetic induction in the intermediate range (400–500 °C) was associated with the enhancement of the pair excitation process. As the material changes phases due to annealing, a large absorption band edge shift from 2.65 to 1.28 eV, a total red shift of 1.37 eV, provides a simple approach to tuneable optical properties of iron oxides.

Graphical abstract

Top panel shows the variation of optical band gap, whereas bottom panel describe the weight percentage variation of different elements with annealing temperature. Middle panel presents the entire theme in form of a sketch of the process related to the synthesis of different phases.

Highlights

  • Ferritin, a biomacromolecule, was used to synthesize nanomaterials with variable optical properties in a sol–gel technique.

  • The variation originates from the structure of nanomaterials which include disordered and crystalline phase of Fe2O3 as a function of annealing temperature.

  • The presence of a large tunable range (1.37 eV) of band gap that covers the entire visible range from blue to red end of the spectrum.

  • EDX and XRD measurements show correlation between thermal destruction of the organic core and crystallization of hematite phase.

  • The pair-excitation transition becomes stronger than LMCT in mid temperature range (400–500 °C) as result of strong magnetic coupling.

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Acknowledgements

SK thankfully acknowledges the University Grants Commission for National Fellowship scheme for SC (erstwhile–RGNF, Lett. No. F1-17.1/2016-17/RGNF-2015-17-SC-HIM-18502/(SA-III/Website)) for the financial support as fellowship toward pursuance of Ph.D. We acknowledge the UV–VIS facility established at the Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. We also acknowledge the AMRC, IIT Mandi for SEM facility (JFEI, Nova Nano SEM-450).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, 171005, India

    Sunil Kumar, Manoj Kumar & Amarjeet Singh

  2. High Pressure and Synchrotron Radiation Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India

    Srihari Velaga

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Kumar, S., Kumar, M., Velaga, S. et al. Tuneable optical properties of Fe2O3 magnetic nanoparticles synthesized from Ferritin. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 105, 650–661 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-022-05992-w

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