Preparation and properties of colloidal iron dispersions

K Butter; K Kassapidou; G J Vroege; A P Philipse

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2005.02.014

Preparation and properties of colloidal iron dispersions

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2005 Jul 15;287(2):485-95. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2005.02.014.

Authors

K Butter¹, K Kassapidou, G J Vroege, A P Philipse

Affiliation

¹ Van 't Hoff Laboratory for Physical and Colloid Chemistry, Debye Institute, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands.

PMID: 15925614
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2005.02.014

Abstract

We systematically study the properties of dispersions of iron-based colloids synthesized in a broad size range by thermal decomposition of ironcarbonyl using different stabilizing surfactants. The synthesis results in stable dispersions of monodomain magnetic colloids. Our particles appear to consist of an amorphous Fe(0.75)C(0.25) alloy. Sizes of particles coated with modified polyisobutene or oleic acid can be easily controlled in the 2-10 nm range by varying the amounts of reactants. Extensive characterization with various techniques gives particle sizes that agree well with each other. In contrast to dispersions of small particles, which consist of single colloids, dynamic aggregates are present in dispersions of larger particles. On exposure to air, an oxide layer forms on the particle surface, consisting of a disordered Fe(III) oxide.