Synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles using chitosan and starch templates

Natural polymers like chitosan and starch have been employed as templates for the preparation of iron oxide nanoparticles. The templates offer selective binding sites for Fe(II) under aqueous conditions. Controlled drying and subsequent removal of the template backbone enables the synthesis of spatially separated iron oxide nanoparticles. The crystalline character of the iron oxide and near narrow particle size distribution pattern have been confirmed through powder XRD, Photon Correlation Spectroscopy, and TEM measurements. The crystallite sizes of the particles were found to be 26-35 nm irrespective of the nature of the template.