Synthesis and Characterization of Superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄@SiO₂Core-Shell Composite Nanoparticles

The Fe3O4@SiO2 composite nanoparticles were obtained from as-synthesized magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles through the modified St?ber method. Then, the Fe3O4 nanoparticles and Fe3O4@SiO2 composite nanoparticles were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Recently, the studies focus on how to improve the dispersion of composite particle and achieve good magnetic performance. Hence effects of the volume ratio of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and magnetite colloid on the structural, morphological and magnetic properties of the composite nanoparticles were systematically investi-gated. The results revealed that the Fe3O4@SiO2 had better thermal stability and dispersion than the magnetite nanoparticles. Furthermore, the particle size and magnetic property of the Fe3O4@SiO2 composite nanoparticles can be adjusted by changing the volume ratio of TEOS and magnetite colloid.

Intensification of levofloxacin sono-degradation in a US/H_2O_2 system with Fe_3O_4 magnetic nanoparticles

Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles(MNPs) were synthesised, characterised, and used as a peroxidase mimetic to accelerate levofloxacin sono-degradation in an ultrasound(US)/H2O2 system. The Fe3O4 MNPs were in nanometre scale with an average diameter of approximately 12 to 18 nm. The introduction of Fe3O4 MNPs increased levofloxacin sono-degradation in the US/H2O2 system. Experimental parameters, such as Fe3O4 MNP dose, initial solution p H, and H2O2 concentration, were investigated by a one-factor-at-a-time approach. The results showed that Fe3O4 MNPs enhanced levofloxacin removal in the p H range from 4.0 to 9.0. Levofloxacin removal ratio increased with Fe3O4 MNP dose up to 1.0 g·L-1and with H2O2 concentration until reaching the maximum. Moreover, three main intermediate compounds were identified by HPLC with electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry, and a possible degradation pathway was proposed. This study suggests that combination of H2O2, Fe3O4 MNPs and US is a good way to improve the degradation efficiency of antibiotics.

Analysis of Spectroscopic, Optical and Magnetic Behaviour of PVDF/PMMA Blend Embedded by Magnetite (Fe₃O₄) Nanoparticles

In the present work, magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles have been prepared by a simple chemical method. Polymer nanocomposites based on the blend between poly vinylamine fluoride (PVDF) and (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) doped with different concentrations of Fe3O4 nanoparticles have been prepared. The structural, optical, and magnetization properties of the nanocomposite samples were studied using suitable techniques. The X-ray study reflected that the cubic spinal structure of pure Fe3O4 crystal. No small peaks or ripples were found in the X-ray spectra, conforming to good dispersion of Fe3O4 within PVDF/PMMA matrices. The FT-IR analysis demonstrated the miscibility between the PVDF and PMMA blend with the interaction between the polymer blend and Fe3O4. The values of the band gap from UV-Vis study were decreased up to 4.21 eV, 3.01 eV for direct and indirect measurements, respectively. The magnetization was measured as a function of the applied magnetic field in the range of −2000 - 2000 Oersted. The curves of the magnetization indicated a paramagnetic behavior of pure Fe3O4 nanoparticles and PVDF/PMMA-Fe3O4 nanocomposites. The values of saturation magnetization for pure Fe3O4 are nearly 75 emu/g, exhibiting a paramagnetic behavior, and it is decreased with the increase of Fe3O4 content.

Photodegradation of Binary Azo Dyes Using Core-Shell Fe₃O₄/SiO₂/TiO₂Nanospheres

Photodegradation has emerged as an environmentally friendly method of decomposing harmful dyes in wastewater. In this study, core-shell Fe3O4/SiO2/ TiO2 nanospheres with magnetic cores were obtained from synthesised magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles through the precipitation method, the surface of the magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles was coated with a silica (SiO2) layer by hydrolysis of tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) as a silica source, and finally, Fe3O4/SiO2 nanospheres were coated with titanium (TiO2) layer using tetrabutyltitanate (TBT) as a precursor through the sol-gel process. The morphology and structure of the prepared materials were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (EDAX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The photocatalytic activities of the prepared core-shell nanospheres were studied using binary azo dyes, namely methyl orange (anionic dye, MO) and methylene blue (cationic dye, MB) in aqueous solution under UV light irradiation (365 nm), and UV-Vis spectrophotometer was utilised to monitor the amount of each dye in the mixture. It was found that 90.2% and 100% of binary MO and MB were removed for 5 h, respectively. The results revealed that the efficiency of the photocatalytic degradation of the core-shell nanospheres was not degreased after five runs that can be used as recyclable photocatalysts. The results show that the performance of the prepared core-shell nanospheres was better than that of commercial TiO2 nanoparticles. Moreover, the magnetic separation properties of the core-shell Fe3O4/SiO2/TiO2 nanospheres can enable the prepared materials to have wider application prospects.

A highly selective magnetic sensor with functionalized Fe/Fe_3O_4 nanoparticles for detection of Pb^(2+)

A magnetic sensor for detection of Pb^2＋ has been developed based on Fe/Fe3O4 nanoparticles modified by3-（3,4-dihydroxyphenyl）propionic acid（DHCA）. The carboxyl groups of DHCA have a strong affinity to coordination behavior of Pb^2＋ thus inducing the transformation of Fe/Fe3O4 nanoparticles from a dispersed to an aggregated state with a corresponding decrease, then increase in transverse relaxation time（T2） of the surrounding water protons. Upon addition of the different concentrations of Pb^2＋ to an aq. solution of DHCA functionalized Fe/Fe3O4 nanoparticles（DHCA-Fe/Fe3O4 NPs）（[Fe] = 90 mmol/L）, the change of T2 values display a good linear relationship with the concentration of Pb^2＋ from 40 μmol/L to 100 μmol/L and from 130 μmol/L to 200 μmol/L, respectively. Owing to the especially strong interaction between DHCA and Pb^2＋, DHCA-Fe/Fe3O4 NPs exhibited a high selectivity over other metal ions.

Synthesis of Fe_3O_4@SiO_2@polymer nanoparticles for controlled drug release

Novel multifunctional nanoparticles containing a magnetic Fe3O4@SiO2 sphere and a biocompatible block copolymer poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(aspartate)(PEG-b-PAsp) were prepared.The silica coated on the superparamagnetic core was able to achieve a magnetic dispersivity,as well as to protect Fe3O4 against oxidation and acid corrosion.The PAsp block was grafted to the surface of Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles by amido bonds,and the PEG block formed the outermost shell.The anticancer agent doxorubicin(DOX) was loaded into the hybrid nanoparticles via an electrostatic interaction between DOX and PAsp.The release rate of DOX could be adjusted by the pH value.

Inexpensive synthesis of a high-performance Fe3O4-SiO2-TiO2 photocatalyst： Magnetic recovery and reuse

A sol-gel technique has been developed for the synthesis of a magnetite-silica-titania （Fe3O4-SiO2-TiO2） tertiary nanocomposite with improved photocatalytic properties based on the use of inexpensive titania and silica precursors. The exceptional photocatalytic activity of the resulting materials was demonstrated by using them to photocatalyze the degradation of methylene blue solution. The best formulation achieved 98% methylene blue degradation. An interesting feature of the present work was the ability to magnetically separate and reuse the catalyst. The efficiency of the catalyst remained high during two reuses. The synthesized nanomaterials were characterized by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, transmission electron micro- scopy （TEM）, Fourier transform infrared （FTIR） spectro- scopy, ultra-violet-visible spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. XRD ana- lysis revealed the formation of multicrystalline systems of cubic magnetite and anatase titania crystals. SEM and TEM characterization revealed well-developed and homo- geneously dispersed particles of size less than 15 nm. FTIR spectra confirmed the chemical interaction of titania and silica. It was further noticed that the optical properties of the prepared materials were dependent on the relative contents of their constituent metal oxides.