Electro-precipitation of magnetite nanoparticles: An electrochemical study

Nanoparticles of magnetites (Fe3O4) are synthesized with a new process based on electro-precipitation in ethanol medium. A mechanism pathway is proposed consisting of a Fe(OH)(3) precipitation followed by the reduction of iron hydroxide to magnetite in the presence of hydroxyl ions which are generated at the cathode. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.