Institute of Fundamental Technological Research

Manufacturing process of wire-like binary or ternary metal nanoalloys applying the magnetic-field-induced (MFI) synthesis is still a challenging task. Hence, this work demonstrates for the first time how to produce the iron-nickel wire-like nanostruc-tures with Fe0.75Ni0.25, Fe0.5Ni0.5 and Fe0.25Ni0.75 compositions. In a contrary to the previously reported synthesis of the Fe-Ni wire-like nanomaterials, this process has been carried out at room temperature without employment of templates, surfactants, organic solvents, and other chemical additives. The as-prepared samples exhibit specific structures with the amorphous bimetallic alloy cores covered by thin amorphous oxide shells. Moreover, they are composed of nanoparticles which are aligned in nearly linear chains. The Fe-Ni samples are ferromagnetic materials. Their coercivity values and saturation magnetizations depend on chemical compositions and dimensions of the investigated chains. The highest saturation magnetization and the lowest coercivity is found for the material with the lowest content of nickel and vice versa.

amorphous materials, Fe–Ni chains, magnetic-field-induced synthesis, magnetic materials, wire-like nanostructure

The main objective of this work is to study the influence of thermal oxidation on the chemical composition and magnetic properties of iron nanoparticles which were manufactured in a simple chemical reduction of Fe3+ ions coming from iron salt with sodium borohydride. The annealing processing was performed in an argon atmosphere containing the traces of oxygen to avoid spontaneous oxidation of iron at temperatures ranging from 200 °C to 800 °C. The chemical composition and magnetic properties of as-prepared and thermally-treated nanoparticles were determined by means of X-ray diffractometry, Raman spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. Due to the magnetic interactions, the investigated iron nanoparticles tended to create the dense aggregates which were difficult to split even at low temperatures. This caused that there was no empty space between them, which led to their partial sintering at elevated temperatures. These features hindered their precise morphological observations using the electron microscopy techniques. The obtained results show that the annealing process up to 800 °C resulted in a progressive change in the chemical composition of as-prepared iron nanoparticles which was associated with their oxidation. As a consequence, their magnetic properties also depended on the annealing temperature. For instance, considering the values of saturation magnetization, its highest value was recorded for the as-prepared nanoparticles at 1 T and it equals 149 emu/g, while the saturation point for nanoparticles treated at 600 °C and higher temperatures was not reached even at the magnetic field of about 5 T. Moreover, a significant enhancement of coercivity was observed for the iron nanoparticles annealed over 600 °C.

Chemical composition, Chemical reduction, Iron nanoparticle, Magnetic properties, Oxidation

This work describes the detailed studies performed on the nanocomposite composed of chemically-modified multiwall carbon nanotubes covered by hematite nanoparticles which diameters vary from 10 nm to 70 nm. This nanomaterial was fabricated in two-steps facile chemical synthesis and was characterized with the use of several experimental techniques, such as: thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy in order to determine its structure precisely. Moreover, the investigated nanocomposite was tested as an anode material of Li-ion batteries. Its cycling performance was stable during 40 cycles, while its capacity was retained at the level of 330 and 230 mAh/g at the discharge/charge rate of 25 and 200 mA/g, respectively.

anode material, hematite, Li-ion battery, multiwall carbon nanotube, nanocomposite

This work describes an oxidation process of iron–iron oxide core–shell nanowires at temperatures between 100°C and 800°C. The studied nanomaterial was synthesized through a simple chemical reduction of iron trichloride in an external magnetic field under a constant flow of argon. The electron microscopy investigations allowed determining that the as-prepared nanowires were composed of self-assembled iron nanoparticles which were covered by a 3 nm thick oxide shell and separated from each other by a thin interface layer. Both these layers exhibited an amorphous or highly-disordered character which was traced by means of transmission electron microscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The thermal oxidation was carried out under a constant flow of argon which contained the traces of oxygen. The first stage of process was related to slow transformations of amorphous Fe and amorphous iron oxides into crystalline phases and disappearance of interfaces between iron nanoparticles forming the studied nanomaterial (range: 25–300°C). After that, the crystalline iron core and iron oxide shell became oxidized and signals for different compositions of iron oxide sheath were observed (range: 300–800°C) using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy. According to the thermal gravimetric analysis, the nanowires heated up to 800°C under argon atmosphere gained 37% of mass with respect to their initial weight. The structure of the studied nanomaterial oxidized at 800°C was mainly composed of α-Fe2O3 (∼93%). Moreover, iron nanowires treated above 600°C lost their wire-like shape due to their shrinkage and collapse caused by the void coalescence.

annealing, core-shell nanostructure, iron nanoparticles, iron nanowires, oxidation, thermal treatment

This work presents the results of high temperature annealing of iron nanowires at five different temperatures (ranging 200–800 °C) in the slightly oxidative atmosphere. Investigated nanomaterial was prepared in simple chemical reduction process from aqueous solution of iron trichloride placed in external magnetic field. Experimental results allowed determining how magnetic properties of as-prepared as well as annealed iron nanowires change in respect to their structures. They also delivered information about phase transitions occurred in as-prepared sample under thermal treatment.

annealing, iron, magnetic properties, nanowires

The aim of this work is to study the preparation and characterization of a new nanocomposite which consists of chemically-modified multiwall carbon nanotubes covered by randomly-deposited nanoparticles of hematite. The morphology, structural and physical properties of the investigated nanomaterial were determined by means of transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and vibrating sample magnetometry at ambient conditions. The presence of residual catalyst nanospheres inside multiwall carbon nanotubes was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The signal coming from this contamination was under the detection limit of X-ray diffractometer, therefore it was not registered.

Hematite, Multiwall carbon nanotubes, CVD, TEM, XRD, VSM