Chemistry Research Journal, 2016, 1(3):14-20
Available online www.chemrj.org
ISSN: 2455-8990
Research Article CODEN(USA): CRJHA5
Synthesis and Characterization of Fe3O4 Magnetite Nanoparticles Coated with Silica
Nanoparticles
Nabil Abdullah Noman Alkadasi
Department of Chemistry, Rada'a, AlBaydha University, Yemen
Engineering College, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Thamar University, Yemen
Abstract Fe3O4 nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by modification of the preparation method of
Fe3O4 nano-particles, which were prepared from Iron (III) Chloride hexahydrate FeCl3.6H2O, Ferrous Chloride
FeCl2.4H2O, Ammonia Solution (NH4OH)and silica nanoparticles. In this study, a new preparation of Fe3O4
nanoparticles and Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with silica nanoparticles were reported. The characterization of
Fe3O4 nanoparticle and Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with Silica nanoparticles is done by TEM, XRD and
Spectrophotometer.
Keywords Fe3O4 Nanoparticle, Silica, Synthesis, Characterization.
Introduction
Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and their dispersion in various media have been scientific and technologic [1-
3], owing to their unique properties in a magnetic field. They are actively used in various industrial and medical
applications. The magnetic fluids based on magnetite and mineral oils or organic solvents are conventionally
synthesized by alkaline hydrolysis of ferrous and ferric salts. The magnetite obtained is stabilized by surfactants.
Oleic acid is often used as a surfactant to form a waterproof shell around the magnetite particles since oleic acid
has higher affinity to the surface of superfine magnetite compared to other surfactants .The treatment of
magnetite by oleic acid is the most complex and important stage of the magnetic magnetite fluid preparation [4-
8].
In conventional technique, to prepare magnetic fluids, an excess base (NH4OH) is used to form magnetite
precipitates and then oleic acid is added as surfactant by forming oleate directly after the complete
crystallization of the magnetite precipitate. The main procedure begins with the co-precipitation of Fe (II) and
Fe (III) ions with addition of excess concentrated NH4OH. The sediment is then isolated by magnetic
decantation and treated with oleic acid at heating. In that is to say an organic carrier liquid is added under
intensive stirring. To obtain concentrated magnetic fluids, treated procedure such as phase separation and
extraction of excess surfactant and solvent are often needed. In this paper, Fe3O4 nanoparticles are perpetrated in
higher concentrated hydrophobic magnetite by adjusting the amount of ammonium hydroxide and oleic acid,
and the time of oleic acid addition. The key to the success of making such a hydrophobic magnetite is to add an
appropriate amount of ammonium hydroxide and oleic acid. Finally a solution has remained neutral and the
magnetite precipitated. The oleic acid, as a reactant, was added immediately after the formation of magnetite
crystal, simultaneously with the crystal growth. We posited that the oleic acid will efficiently coat the Fe3O4
crystal at the growth stage and will create a highly concentrated hydrophobic magnetite precipitated [9-13].
We characterized the magnetite precipitated in terms of its morphology, particle size, magnetite properties,
structure, and hydrophobicity / hyrophilicity by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Spectrophotometer
and Powder X- Ray Diffraction (XRD).
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Experimental Work
Materials:
Iron (III) Chloride hexahydrate FeCl3.6H2O, 99.0%, Ferrous Chloride FeCl2.4H2O, 98.0%, Ammonia Solution
(NH4OH), Ethyl Silicate and Ethanol were purchased from Sinopharm chemical reagent Co, Ltd, China.
Physical parameters of Iron (III) Chloride hexahydrate FeCl3.6H2O, 99.0%, Ferrous Chloride FeCl2.4H2O,
98.0%, Ammonia Solution (NH4OH), Ethyl Silicate and Ethanol and Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) are reported in
table 1 to 6.
Table 1: General Characteristics of Iron (III) Chloride hexahydrate FeCl3.6H2O
Molecular formula Iron (III) Chloride hexahydrate FeCl3.6H2O ,99.0%
Appearance Yellow- red crystal
Molecular weight 270.29
Company Sinopharm chemical reagent Co ,Ltd ,China
Table2: General Characteristics of Ferrous Chloride FeCl2.4H2O ,98.0%
Molecular formula Ferrous Chloride FeCl2.4H2O ,98.0%
Appearance Green Crystall
Molecular weight 198.82
Company Sinopharm chemical reagent Co ,Ltd ,China
Table 3: General Characteristics of Ammonia (NH4OH)
Molecular formula Ammonia ( NH4OH )
Appearance liquid
Molecular weight 17.03
Concentration 25 – 28 %
Company Sinopharm chemical reagent Co ,Ltd ,China
Table 4: General Characteristics of Ethyl Silicate
Molecular formula Ethyl Silicate ( C8 H20 O4 Si )
Appearance Liquid
Density 20 0C ( g/ml ) 0.932 – 0.936
Molecular weight 208.33
SiO2 ≥ 28.4 %
Company Sinopharm chemical reagent Co ,Ltd ,China
Table 5: General Characteristics of Ethanol
Molecular formula Ethanol ( C2H6O ) ≥ 99.7%
Appearance Liquid
Density 20 0C ( g/ml ) 0.789 – 0.791
Molecular weight 46.07
Company Sinopharm chemical reagent Co ,Ltd ,China
Table 6: General Characteristics of Hydrochloric Acid ( HCl )
Molecular formula Hydrochloric Acid ( HCl )
Appearance liquid
Molecular weight 36 .5
Concentration 36 – 38 %
Company Sinopharm chemical reagent Co ,Ltd ,China
Synthesis of magnetite Fe3O4 nanoparticle:
The magnetite was Synthesized by modification method as in the following procedure [14-19]: first , 5.8 g
FeCl3. 6H2O and 2.2 g FeCl2 .4 H2O were dissolved in 200 ml deionized water under nitrogen gas with vigorous
stirring at 90 °C for 30 minutes. Then, 7.5 ml of 25 wt% NH4OH was added to the solution to get black
precipitated. After that it was collected and washed with de-ionized water and pure ethanol three times. And last
dried oven for 24 hours at 80 °C to obtained black powder.
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Preparation of Silica nanoparticles Coated magnetite Fe3O4 nanoparticles:
First, 0.5 g of Fe3O4 powder was dispersed in mixture solvent of 25 mL ethanol and 5 mL deionized water by
sonication for 15 mins. Then, 5 mL aqueous ammonia (NH4OH). After stirring the mixture, 3.7 mL TEOS was
added drop wise to the solution repaid stirring condition for 24 hours and temperature 30 °C under vigorous
mechanical stirring. After that, Fe3O4 @SiO2 precipitate was collected using a permanent magnet, and rinsed
repeatedly with deionized water until the filter was neutral. And last Fe3O4 @SiO2 particles were separated
from solution by centrifugation at 10000 rpm and washed three times with deionized water and pure ethanol.
The Synthesized Fe3O4 @SiO2 particle suspension was dried in oven at 80 °C for 24 hours.
Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) Test
For TEM Test, a small amount of sample was dissolved in 3mL of deionized water in test tube and the solution
was stirred by ultra-sonication. Then 10 µL sample was transferred to clean Copper Grid and kept dried for the
TEM test. The TEM micrographs of samples were observed by CM 12 Philips Transmission Electron
Microscope.
Spectroscopy Results
For Spectroscopy Results, a small amount of sample was put in a test tube and then dissolved in 3 mL ethanol
or chloroform and it was stirred by ultra-sonication to make sure the sample was uniform. Finally, solution was
transferred to cavity of spectrophotometer and spectra were recorded at 400 to 750 nm.
For XRD results, a small amount of powder sample was put in the XRD machine connected with computer. The
result was recorded between intensity (KCPS) and Degree (2ɵ) shown in the figures (1 & 2).
Discussion
The Fe3O4 nanoparticle was synthesized by heating to 90 °C of Fe3O4 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated oleic acid
in powder form. Plates 1-13, TEM, show the top-view TEM images of the Fe3O4 Nanoparticle and Fe3O4
nanoparticle coated oleic acid. X-ray diffraction spectra shows of Magnetite nanoparticles and Fe3O4
nanoparticle coated oleic acid (Figure 1). Spectra shows of Magnetite nanoparticles and Fe3O4 nanoparticle
coated oleic acid respectively dispersed in ethanol (Figure 2 & 3).
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by UNESCO, People's Republic of China (Great wall) and Al-baida'a University ,
Republic of Yemen .
Plate 1: TEM of Fe3O4 nanoparticles
Plate 2: TEM of Fe3O4 nanoparticles
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Plate 3: TEM of Fe3O4 nanoparticles
Plate 4: TEM of Fe3O4 nanoparticles
Plate 5: TEM of Fe3O4 nanoparticles
Plate 6: TEM of Fe3O4 nanoparticles
Plate 7: TEM of Fe3O4 nanoparticles
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Plate 8: TEM of Fe3O4 nanoparticles
Plate 9: TEM of Silica Nanoparticles at 30 0C
Plate 10: TEM of Silica Nanoparticles at 30 0C
Plate 11: TEM of Silica Nanoparticles at 30 0C
Plate 12: TEM of Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with silica nanoparticles
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Plate 13: TEM of Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with silica nanoparticles
Plate 14: TEM of Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with silica nanoparticles
Plate 15: TEM of Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with silica nanoparticles
Plate 16: TEM of Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with silica nanoparticles
Figure 1: XRD for Fe3O4 Magnetite ( Fe3O4 ) nanoparticles
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Figure 2: Spectra for Magnetite ( Fe3O4 ) nanoparticles
Figure 3: Spectra for Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with silica nanoparticles
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