Deposition of iron oxide nanoparticles on mesoporous alumina network by wet-combustion technology

Abstract

Abstract The physico-chemical functionality within mesoporous networks dictates their performance as magnets, catalysts, and electro-thermal conductive materials. In this work, a method of wet-combustion was developed for functionalization of a mesoporous network of alumina nanofibres by iron oxide nanoparticles. As the basic fuels, urea and glycine were used. Iron nitrate was applied as an oxidant and a precursor of iron. The fuel type and oxidizer-to-fuel ratio dominantly affects the formation of the final product. The yielded wet-combusted product varies from iron (II) oxides [FeAl2O4] with crystallite size of 12 nm when glycine is used to iron (III) oxides [AlFeO3] with crystallite size of 21 nm when urea is used as a fuel. The agglomerates of spherical nanoparticles of γ-Fe2O3 with an average crystallite size less than 15 nm were homogenously distributed throughout the mesoporous alumina network in both cases. The magnetization curves reveal saturation point is around 6.3 emu.g−1 alongside the Fe2O3 coated-mesoporous alumina nanofibers, and 6 emu.g−1 for a transversal field.