One-Pot Photosynthesis of Cubic Fe@Fe3O4 Core-Shell Nanoparticle Well-Dispersed in N-Doping Carbonaceous Polymer Using a Molecular Dinitrosyl Iron Precursor

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) features potential application to biomedicine, (electro-/photo)catalysis, and environmental remediation. However, multiple-synthetic steps and limited ZVI content prompt the development of a novel strategy for efficient preparation of NZVI composites. Herein, a dinitrosyl iron complex [(N3MDA)Fe(NO)2] (1-N3MDA) was explored as a molecular precursor for one-pot photosynthesis of a cubic Fe@Fe3O4 core-shell nanoparticle (ZVI% = 60%) well-dispersed in an N-doping carbonaceous polymer (NZVI@NC). Upon photolysis of 1-N3MDA, photosensitizer Eosin Y, and sacrificial reductant TEA, the alpha-diimine N3MDA and noninnocent NO ligands (1) enable the slow reduction of 1-N3MDA into an unstable [(N3MDA)Fe(NO)2]- species, (2) serve as a capping reagent for controlled nucleation of zerovalent Fe atom into Fe nanoparticle, and (3) promote the polymerization of degraded Eosin Y with N3MDA yielding an N-doping carbonaceous matrix in NZVI@NC. This discovery of a one-pot photosynthetic process for NZVI@NC inspires continued efforts on its application to photolytic water splitting and ferroptotic chemotherapy in the near future.

Automated summary

This study presents a novel strategy for the efficient preparation of nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) composites using a one-pot photosynthetic process. The obtained NZVI composites showed potential applications in biomedicine, catalysis, and environmental remediation.