CA and/or EDTA functionalized magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles by oxidative precipitation from FeCl2 solution: structural and magnetic study

Abstract Four samples containing magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONs) of various sizes are prepared employing a simple low-temperature method of oxidative precipitation from FeCl 2 ∙4H 2 O–NaOH–NaNO 3 aqueous solution. For the preparation of two samples, the usual oxidation-precipitation synthesis protocol is modified by using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) chelating agent as a stabilizer of the Fe 2+ ions in a solution, which results in the partial capping of the prepared MIONs with EDTA molecules. Three out of four samples are subjected to citric acid (CA) functionalization in the post synthesis protocol. Structural and magnetic properties of the synthesized MIONs are assessed using various experimental techniques (XRD, TEM, Fourier transform infrared, dynamic light scattering, Mössbauer, and SQUID). The average size of spherical-like MIONs is tuned from 7 nm to 38 nm by changing the synthesis protocol. Their room temperature saturation magnetization, M s , is in the range of 43 to 91 emu g −1 . Magnetic heating ability, expressed via specific absorption rate value, which ranges from 139 to 390 W/g Fe , is discussed in relation to their structural and magnetic properties and the possible energy dissipation mechanisms involved. The best heating performance is exhibited by the sample decorated with EDTA and with a bimodal size distribution with average particle sizes of 14 and 37 nm and M s = 87 emu g −1 . Though this sample contains particles prone to form aggregates, capping with EDTA provides good colloidal stability of this sample, thus preserving the magnetic heating ability. It is demonstrated that two samples, consisting of 7 nm-sized CA- or 14 nm-sized EDTA/CA-functionalized superparamagnetic MIONs, with a similar hydrodynamic radius, heat in a very similar way in the relatively fast oscillating alternating current magnetic field, f = 577 kHz.