Biosynthesis of Zinc Substituted Magnetite Nanoparticles with Enhanced Magnetic Properties

Abstract

The magnetic moments of magnetite nanoparticles are dramatically enhanced through the addition of zinc in a microbiologically driven synthesis procedure. The particles are produced through the reduction of Fe(III)‐compounds containing Zn(II) by the iron reducing bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens . Results indicate a significant increase in the saturation magnetization by over 50% compared to magnetite at both room and low temperatures for relatively minor quantities of zinc substitution. A maximum saturation magnetization of nearly 100 emu g −1 of sample is measured at room temperature. Analysis of the cation site ordering reveals a complex dependence on the Zn content, with the combined effect of Zn substitution of Fe 3+ ions on tetrahedral sites, together with Fe 2+ cation oxidation, leading to the observed magnetization enhancement for low Zn doping levels. The improved magnetic properties give superior performance in MRI applications with an MRI contrast enhancement among the largest values reported, being more than 5 times larger than a commercial contrast agent (Feridex) measured under identical conditions. The synthesis technique applied here involves an environmentally benign route and offers the potential to tune the magnetic properties of magnetic nanoparticles, with increased overall magnetization desirable for many different commercial applications.