Fabrication and characterization of magnetic ferrofluids by the co-precipitation way using diglycolic acid

Developing of a simple method for the fabrication of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Nps) is still a challenge for materials scientists. This work reveals a way to fabricate especially stable ferrofluids from spherical Nps of magnetite using the co-precipitation method, for which a new (diglycolic acid) stabilizer was applied. The Nps of the average size of similar to 7.4-16.5 nm were characterized by means of high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), selective area electron diffraction (SAED), Raman, FTIR and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The stabilization effect of the diglycolic acid for the growth of superparamagnetic Nps growth was discussed on the basis of experimental results.