Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles with Mesoporous Structure Prepared through Hydrothermal Technique
Magnetite nanoparticles have been successfully prepared by hydrothermal method from FeCl3 as starting material. The properties and morphology of the products with different synthesis time and FeCl3 concentration were investigated. Firstly, the FeCl3 with concentration of 0.05 – 0.15 M and 0.10 M sodium citrate as well as 0.15 M were mixed with distilled water containing 0.1 g polyethylene glycol. Subsequenly, the solution was transferred into a Teflon-lined autoclave and it heated into an oven at 210°C for 12 hours. The black precipitate that formed was separated by a bar magnet, then washed with water and ethanol, and dried at 60°C overnight. The magnetite formation begun at 3.5 hours synthesis time with crystal diameter in range of 9.4-30 nm. The crystallinity and crystal size of magnetite increased with reaction time and concentration of FeCl3. The magnetite nanoparticles had a mesoporous structure and bigger pores at higher concentration. The saturation magnetization (Ms) of magnetite was in the range of 59 – 81 Emu/g with coercivity value was near to zero showing that magnetite nanoparticle had superparamagnetic properties.