Correlation Between The PH Value And Properties Of Magnetite Nanoparticles

Department of Physics, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar 263145, India

Adv. Mater. Lett., 2014, 5 (5), pp 280-286

DOI: 10.5185/amlett.2014.10563

Publication Date (Web): Mar 09, 2014

Copyright © IAAM-VBRI Press

E-mail: ranawithgeeta@gmail.com

Abstract

Magnetite nanoparticles with particle size ~ 10 and 16 nm are synthesized by varying pH of the initial solution during chemical co-precipitation method. The X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the formation of spinel phase; however, the Raman spectra show an impure phase of antiferromagnetic Fe₂O₃ in the sample of smaller nanoparticles (10 nm). The cation distribution of these nanoparticles is estimated using the lattice parameter. Lower saturation magnetization of these samples, as compared to bulk, has been attributed to larger surface area of these samples. Same aspect has also been investigated from the optical band gap variation of these nanoparticles. Almost one third value of magnetization of smaller nanoparticles compared to larger one is due to the presence of Fe₂O₃ phase. The motive of the present study is to correlate the properties of magnetite nanoparticles with the synthesis parameters like pH and hence to tune them according to particular applications.

Keywords

Magnetite nanoparticles, pH value, cation inversion, optical band gap