Reproducibility and Scalability of Magnetic Nanoheater Synthesis

The application of magnetic nanoparticles requires large amounts of materials of reproducible quality. This work explores the scaled-up synthesis of multi-core iron oxide nanoparticles through the use of thermal decomposition in organic media and kilograms of reagents. To this end, we check the effect of extending the high temperature step from minutes to hours. To address the intrinsic variability of the colloidal crystallization nucleation process, the experiments were repeated and analyzed statistically. Due to the simultaneity of the nuclei growth and agglomeration steps, the nanostructure of the samples produced was a combination of single- and multi-core nanoparticles. The main characteristics of the materials obtained, as well as the reaction yields, were analyzed and compared. As a general rule, yield, particle size, and reproducibility increase when the time at high temperature is prolonged. The samples obtained were ranked in terms of the reproducibility of different structural, colloidal, and magnetic features. The capability of the obtained materials to act as nanoheaters in magnetic hyperthermia was assessed, showing a strong dependence on the crystallite size (calculated by X-ray diffraction), reflecting the nanoparticle volume with a coherent magnetization reversal.

Kinetic Monte Carlo simulation of the growth of CdSe nanocrystals

This article is devoted to modeling the kinetics of colloidal crystallization of cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanoparticles (NPs). The kinetic equation is modified, considering the contributions of the reaction rate constants of individual stages. It includes the reaction rate constants, thermodynamic and calculated parameters, and physical properties. There is used modified kinetic model based on the crystallization equation. There are considered the contributions of adsorption, desorption, and migration of nucleated particles at different times. Modified model assumes that, upon crystallization of NPs CdSe, monomer units depend on the frequency of attachment and detachment transitions of the monomer–CdSe complex. In this case, the transformation of the precursor into a monomer, the formation of an effective monomer and nucleation pass into the growth stage of (NC CdSe) nanocrystals with a seeded mass. In the process, the resulting nanocluster will continue to grow due to early maturation, aging, and subsequent growth into larger NC CdSe. The Kinetic Monte Carlo method (KMC) is used to approximate the model of the nucleation–growth of NC considering different contributions to the reaction rate constants. The modified model with the use of KMC allows to describe the dependences of the kinetic rate constants on the average radius of nanoparticles as a function of time, concentration, and distribution of NC CdSe at a given time. There are described conditions for the formation of NPs CdSe with an evolutionary distribution function of NC CdSe in size space. The results of modeling the kinetics of colloidal crystallization of CdSe can be used to control nucleation rate and growth of NPs CdSe, as well as similar systems in the formation of high-quality NC.