Morphology-controlled synthesis of highly crystalline Fe3O4 and CoFe2O4 nanoparticles using a facile thermal decomposition method

CoFe2O4 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles with controllable morphology were synthesized using a convenient and facile one-pot thermal decomposition method. Iron(III) acetylacetonate and cobalt(II) acetylacetonate were used as precursors instead of the toxic and expensive pentacarbonyl, and oleic acid and oleylamine employed as solvents, stabilizers, and reducing agents. The nanoparticles exhibit well-defined shapes of varying size and their morphology can be tuned by modifying the reaction time, solvent, and temperature. Transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were utilized to confirm the unique morphology, high crystallinity, composition and pure phase structure. Magnetic characterization of the nanoparticles further revealed the highest saturation magnetization value of 80.93 and 92.94 emu per g obtained for the cubic shape in the case of both CoFe2O4 and Fe3O4, respectively.