A solvothermal route to capped nanoparticles of gamma-Fe2O3 and CoFe2O4

The decomposition of single or multiple transition metal cupferron complexes in organic solvents under solvothermal conditions and in the presence of long chain amines yields the corresponding oxide nanoparticles. The examples presented here are maghemite gamma -Fe2O3 nanoparticles from an Fe-III-cupferron complex and spinel CoFe2O4 nanoparticles starting from Co-II-cupferron complex and Fe-III-cupferron complex taken in suitable proportions. The nanoparticles are capped with n-octylamine or n-dodecylamine. The presence of amine in the reaction is found to be essential for the formation of the product. The magnetic behavior of pressed pellets of these nanoparticles is presented.