Scalable synthesis of dispersible iron carbide (Fe3C) nanoparticles by ‘nanocasting’
File(s)
Published version
OA Location
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Metal carbides have shown great promise in a wide range of applications due to their unique catalytic, electrocatalytic and magnetic properties. However, the scalable production of dispersible metal carbide nanoparticles remains a challenge. Here, we report a simple and scalable route to dispersible iron carbide (Fe3C) nanoparticles. This uses MgO nanoparticles as a removable ‘cast’ to synthesize Fe3C nanoparticles from Prussian blue (KFeIII[FeII(CN)6]). Electron tomography demonstrates how nanoparticles of the MgO cast encase the Fe3C nanoparticles to prevent sintering and agglomeration during the high-temperature synthesis. The MgO cast is readily removed with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to generate Fe3C nanoparticles that can be used to produce a colloidal ferrofluid or dispersed on a support material.
Date Acceptance
2019-07-31
Citation
Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 7 (33), pp.19506-19512
ISSN
2050-7488
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Start Page
19506
End Page
19512
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume
7
Issue
33
Copyright Statement
© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2019. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.
License URL
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c9ta06876g
Subjects
0303 Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry
0912 Materials Engineering
0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2019-08-05