Ge-incorporation into 6-line ferrihydrite nanocrystals

Abstract

A Ge-incorporated ‘6-line’ ferrihydrite with 20% of total Fe3+ sites occupied by Ge4+ was synthesized for the first time through hydrolysis and acidification of the mixed solution of Fe(NO3)3·9H2O and TEOGe (Ge(OC2H5)4). The newly synthesized Ge-ferrihydrite shows a monodisperse nanocrystalline structure with diameters of ∼10 and ∼40 nm with distinctly enhanced crystallinity and stability.