Effect of the Surfactant on the Growth and Oxidation of Iron Nanoparticles

Abstract

Fe nanoparticles and branched nanostructures of iron oxide were synthesized by chemical reduction in aqueous phase. The mechanism of formation of iron oxides as a function of the amount of surfactant employed during the synthesis process was studied. Specifically Fe, Fe 2 O 3 , and Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles were obtained. The oxidation of Fe to Fe 3 O 4 and finally to Fe 2 O 3 was carried out by oxidative etching process, decreasing the amount of stabilizer agent. The structures obtained were characterized by high resolution (HRTEM) and scanning/transmission (STEM) electron microcopies, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and optical spectroscopy (UV‐Vis and IR).