Aging study on the structure of Fe0-nanoparticles: Stabilization, characterization, and reactivity

Qiliang Wang, Sanghyup Lee, Heechul Choi

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    103 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Inert/pseudoinert gases, including argon, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide, were utilized to stabilize synthesized Fe0-nanoparticles after lyophilization to prevent self-ignition. In addition, the aging effect was investigated for these stabilized Fe0-nanoparticles both in humid and dry conditions. Particles' shapes, sizes, and structures were characterized for these fresh and aged Fe0-nanoparticles using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area and porosity analyzer, transmission electronic microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Even when aged Fe0-nanoparticles were exposed to the atmosphere, the Fe0 content in these aged Fe 0-nanoparticles did not change significantly, which was confirmed by XRD, EDX, and HCl digestion methods. Reactivity of the fresh Fe 0-nanoparticles stabilized using inert/pseudoinert gases for bromate reduction was more than 99% in 20 min, much higher than for microsized ZVI. However, for the aged Fe0-nanoparticles, the reactivity decreased as the aging time increased; the reactivity of Fe0-nanoparticles stored in humid conditions decreased much more than that of Fe0- nanoparticles stored in dry conditions. The observed results revealed that recovery and recrystallization occurred in the aged Fe0-nanoparticles at room temperature instead of the traditional theory that recrystallization and annealing occur at a high temperature; in additional, recovery and recrystallization are the real mechanisms of the loss of reactivity for aged Fe0-nanoparticles instead of oxidation.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)2027-2033
    Number of pages7
    JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry C
    Volume114
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2010 Feb 11

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
    • General Energy
    • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
    • Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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