Synthesis and characterization of Fe3O4 nanoparticles by electrodeposition and reduction methods

Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles have been studied extensively due to their good magnetic, optic and electric properties which offer a great potential of applications in many field especially in removal of heavy metals such as the adsorption of poisonous Cr(VI) ion in water. In addition, Fe3O4 is the only material that has up to now been use in human because it is the only material which is known to be biocompatible, without relevant toxicity in the applied dosage. In this study Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared by reduction of ferric oxide (Fe2O3) precursor at 598 K for 10, 20, 30 and 40 min. While, ferric oxide (Fe2O3) precursor was prepared by electrodeposition of iron plate in the N,N-dimethylformamide solvent and tetraethylammonium perchlorate and naphthalene as mediators at 263 K. Reduction of Fe2O3 was carried out with an isothermal heating at 598 K under hydrogen atmosphere. Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 were characterized with XRD, BET Surface area, FTIR, FESEM-EDX and TEM. The surface area of both Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 was 38 - 45 m2/g with the average particle size was 40 - 60 nm. The XRD result showed that the crystallinity of Fe3O4 increased with reduction time. The activity of Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles were tested on the adsorption of chromium (VI) at room temperature in which 30-40 % of Cr(VI) ion was adsorbed on the Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles.