Abstract
Background: In order to be suitable for biomedical applications, the iron oxide based magnetic materials require appropriate characteristics such as superparamagnetic behaviour, high saturation magnetization, high specific surface area, small particle size and narrow distribution.
Objective: The objective of the present study was to find the optimum conditions for obtaining iron oxidesilica nanocomposites with superparamagnetic behaviour by thermolysis of sol-gel derived inorganic-organic hybrid xerogels.
Method: The tetraethylorthosilicate, TEOS, and iron (III) acetylacetonate precursors were processed at room temperature by acid catalysed sol-gel route in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol (molecular weight of 145000) as an additive. The thermal treatment at 180 °C, 220 °C, 260 °C, 300 °C, 400 °C and 500 °C respectively, of obtained inorganic-organic hybrid xerogel resulted in six Fe2O3-SiO2 (20% Fe2O3-target composition) nanocomposite samples. All the samples were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction technique, transmission electron microscopy, Mossbauer spectroscopy, and submitted to magnetic measurements.
Results: The maghemite unique crystalline phase was obtained at 300°C along with a certain amount of amorphous iron oxide. By further raising the calcination temperature, this initialized the γ- to α-Fe2O3 transition process. At 400 °C, the maghemite and hematite coexist, and at 500 °C only the hematite crystalline phase was found.
Conclusion: Both structural and magnetic properties of the nanocomposite sample annealed at 260°C, recommend it. The sample consists in γ-Fe2O3 phase exhibiting superparamagnetic behavior with approx. 48 emu/g saturation magnetization value and approx. 10 nm average particle diameter. A promising response was obtained when the sample was tested as a contrast agent in medical imaging application.
Keywords: Nanocomposite, oxides, magnetic properties, saturation magnetization, superparamagnetic behaviour.
Graphical Abstract
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Catalytic C-H bond activation as a tool for functionalization of heterocycles
The major topic is the functionalization of heterocycles through catalyzed C-H bond activation. The strategies based on C-H activation not only provide straightforward formation of C-C or C-X bonds but, more importantly, allow for the avoidance of pre-functionalization of one or two of the cross-coupling partners. The beneficial impact of ...read more
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