Microwave Assisted Synthesis and Oxidation Resistance of Sm3+ Doped Fe3O4 Nanoparticles

Abstract

In this study, pure and Sm³⁺ doped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were prepared via a microwave assisted synthesis in water solution. The samples were characterized by TEM, XRD, XANES, and VSM techniques. The structure and morphology, Fe and Sm oxidation states, the oxidation resistance and magnetic properties of pure and Sm doped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were studied. TEM and XRD results show that Sm doped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles have a good dispersion and are smaller than pure Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The Fe and Sm oxidation states of pure and Sm doped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were studied by means of XANES analysis. The magnetic properties of Sm doped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles determined by VSM exhibit superparamagnetic behavior with high saturation magnetization. It was found that Sm doping in a small amount makes it possible not only to reduce the sizes of magnetite nanoparticles but also to improve their oxidation resistance and increase their saturation magnetization value. These pure and Sm doped Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles are expected to be used in a number of biomedical applications.