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Scalable synthesis of dispersible iron carbide (Fe3C) nanoparticles by 'nanocasting'

Fletcher, D. C. ; Hunter, R. ; Xia, W. ; Smales, G. J. ; Pauw, B. R. ; Blackburn, E. LU ; Kulak, A. ; Xin, Huolin and Schnepp, Z. (2019) In Journal of Materials Chemistry A 7(33). p.19506-19512
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 higherature synthesis. The MgO cast is readily removed with... (More)

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 higherature 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.

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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Materials Chemistry A
volume
7
issue
33
pages
7 pages
publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
external identifiers
  • scopus:85071180468
ISSN
2050-7488
DOI
10.1039/c9ta06876g
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
6cf51a92-465d-4b68-a186-85fe0c1f44d9
date added to LUP
2019-10-02 16:27:08
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:44:13
@article{6cf51a92-465d-4b68-a186-85fe0c1f44d9,
  abstract     = {{<p>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 (Fe<sub>3</sub>C) nanoparticles. This uses MgO nanoparticles as a removable 'cast' to synthesize Fe<sub>3</sub>C nanoparticles from Prussian blue (KFe<sup>III</sup>[Fe<sup>II</sup>(CN)<sub>6</sub>]). Electron tomography demonstrates how nanoparticles of the MgO cast encase the Fe<sub>3</sub>C nanoparticles to prevent sintering and agglomeration during the higherature synthesis. The MgO cast is readily removed with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to generate Fe<sub>3</sub>C nanoparticles that can be used to produce a colloidal ferrofluid or dispersed on a support material.</p>}},
  author       = {{Fletcher, D. C. and Hunter, R. and Xia, W. and Smales, G. J. and Pauw, B. R. and Blackburn, E. and Kulak, A. and Xin, Huolin and Schnepp, Z.}},
  issn         = {{2050-7488}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{33}},
  pages        = {{19506--19512}},
  publisher    = {{Royal Society of Chemistry}},
  series       = {{Journal of Materials Chemistry A}},
  title        = {{Scalable synthesis of dispersible iron carbide (Fe<sub>3</sub>C) nanoparticles by 'nanocasting'}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c9ta06876g}},
  doi          = {{10.1039/c9ta06876g}},
  volume       = {{7}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}