Mössbauer studies of stoichiometry of Fe3O4: characterization of nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Characterization of Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Applications in Catalytic Activity in the Adsorption/Degradation of Methylene Blue and Esterification

The aim of this study is to evaluate the applicability of the catalytic activity (CA) of the Fe₃O₄ magnetic system in the adsorption/degradation of methylene blue and esterification. The thermal decomposition method allowed the preparation of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The crystallites of the Fe₃O₄ structural phase present an acicular form confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Transmission electron microscopy results identified the acicular shape and agglomeration of the nanoparticles. Mössbauer spectroscopy showed that the spectrum is composed of five components at room temperature, a hyperfine magnetic field distribution (HMFD), two sextets, a doublet, and a singlet. The presence of the HMFD means that a particle size distribution is present. Fluorescence spectroscopy studied the CA of the nanoparticles with methylene blue and found adsorption/degradation properties of the dye. The catalytic activity of the nanoparticles was evaluated in the esterification reaction by comparing the results in the presence and absence of catalyst for the reaction with isobutanol and octanol, where it is observed that the selectivity for the products MIBP and MNOP is favored in the first three hours of reaction.

Size-modulation of functionalized Fe3O4: nanoscopic customization to devise resolute piezoelectric nanocomposites

Magnetite (Fe₃O₄), a representative relaxor multiferroic material, possesses fundamentally appealing multifaceted size-dependent properties. Herein, to evaluate a prototype spinel transition metal oxide (STMO), monodispersed and highly water-dispersible spherical magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) with an enormous size range (3.7-242.8 nm) were synthesized via a facile microwave-assisted and polyol-mediated solvothermal approach at a controlled temperature and pressure using unique crystallite growth inhibitors. The excellent long-term colloidal stability of the MNPs in a polar environment and increase in their zeta potential confirmed the coordinative effect of the carboxylate groups derived from the covalent surface functionalization, which was also validated by FTIR spectroscopy, TGA and XPS analysis. The optical bandgap (E_g) between the crystal field split-off bands, which was calculated using the absorption spectra, increased gradually with a decrease in size of the MNPs within a broad UV-Vis range (1.59-4.92 eV). The red-shifting of the asymmetric Raman peaks with a smaller size and short-range electron-phonon coupling could be explained by the modified phonon confinement model (MPCM), whereas ferrimagnetic nature rejigged by superparamagnetism was verified from Mössbauer analysis. These stoichiometric, non-toxic, polar and magnetic nanocrystals are not only ideal for biomedical applications, but also suitable as electroactive porous host networks. Finally, the size-modulated MNPs were incorporated in poly(vinylidene fluoride) [PVDF]-based polytype nanogenerators as an electret filler to demonstrate their piezoelectric performance (V_OC∼115.95 V and I_SC∼1.04 μA), exhibiting substantial electromagnetic interference shielding.

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Fe3O4 Nanocrystals with Predominantly Exposed Facets and Their Heterogeneous UVA/Fenton Catalytic Activity

Fe₃O₄ nanocrystals with five different morphologies (i.e., nanospheres, nanorods, nanocubes, nano-octahedrons, and nanoplates) were acquired using a simple, efficient, and economic microwave-assisted oxidation technique. The microstructure, morphology, predominant exposed facets, and iron atom local environment of Fe₃O₄ were revealed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), and Mössbauer spectrum. We demonstrated that the heterogeneous UVA/Fenton catalytic activities of Fe₃O₄ nanocrystals are morphology/facets dependent. Under UVA irradiation, the catalytic activity of the as-prepared Fe₃O₄ was in the sequence of nanospheres > nanoplates > nano-octahedrons ≈ nanocubes > nanorods > nano-octahedrons (by coprecipitation). The dominating factor for the catalytic performance was the particle size and BET specific surface area; moreover, the exposed {111} facets, which contained more Fe²⁺ species, on the nanocrystal surface led to a stronger UVA/Fenton catalytic activity. Both ^•OH and O₂^•- radicals participated in the UVA/Fenton degradation process, and ^•OH played the dominant role. These morphology-controlled nanomagnetites showed great potential in applications as heterogeneous UVA/Fenton catalysts for effectively treating nonbiodegradable organic pollutants.