Synthesis of highly magnetized iron nanoparticles by a solventless thermal decomposition method

The alpha-Fe nanoparticle was successfully synthesized by a solventless thermal decomposition method. The metal(2+)-oleate(2) complex prepared with metal salts and surfactant in aqueous solution was transformed to metal oxide. The metal oxide nanoparticle synthesized from the metal(2+)-oleate(2) complex was mixed with salt powder as a separating media. The metal oxide mixture was reduced to alpha-Fe nanoparticles by Ar + 4% H-2 mixture gas, and then it was annealed under a high-vacuum system of 1.8 x 10(-5) Torr at 700 degrees C. The NaCl powder that was used instead of a surfactant plays an important role to keep the size and shape of the nanoparticles. The magnetization value of the prepared alpha-Fe nanoparticles is 213 emu/g, and the mean particle size of the alpha-Fe nanoparticles is 35 nm.