The synthesis of clusters of iron oxides in mesopores of monodisperse spherical silica particles

Abstract

The method of obtaining nanoclusters α-Fe₂O₃ in the pores of monodisperse spherical particles of mesoporous silica (mSiO₂) by a single impregnation of the pores with a melt of crystalline hydrate of ferric nitrate and its subsequent thermal destruction has been proposed. Fe₃O₄ nanoclusters are synthesized from α-Fe₂O₃ in the pores by reducing in thermodynamically equilibrium conditions. Then particles containing Fe₃O₄ were annealed in oxygen for the conversion of Fe₃O₄ back to α-Fe₂O₃. In the result, the particles with the structure of the core-shell mSiO₂/Fe₃O₄@mSiO₂/α-Fe₂O₃ are obtained. The composition and structure of synthesized materials as well as the field dependence of the magnetic moment on the magnetic field strength have been investigated.