Preparation of size-controlled nanoparticles of magnetite

Samples of ferrofluids containing chemically stabilized nanoparticles of magnetite (Fe3O4) with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH) were prepared by a direct reduction-precipitation method. The influences of aging time and temperature on the size and monodispersion characteristics of the produced nanoparticles were investigated. Transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared, and magnetization measurements with applied magnetic field up to 2T were used to characterize the synthesized iron oxides. Raising the temperature of the synthesized material in autoclave affects positively the monodispersion of the nanoparticles, but it was not found to significantly influence the size itself of individual particles. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.