Effect of PEO–PPO–PEO triblock copolymers in the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles embedded in SiO2 and TiO2 matrices by sol–gel method

Abstract

Hematite and maghemite nanoparticles embedded in silica and titanium dioxide matrices were obtained by sol–gel method. A mixture of precursor solutions of SiO2 and TiO2 doped with Fe3O4 salt templated by the addition of PEO–PPO–PEO triblock copolymers in a concentration of 12.1 wt% PF127 (SiO2) and 4.1 wt% P123 (TiO2) produces very stable magnetic particles with average size between 5 and 10 nm. These neutral surfactants allow the control of the morphology and crystal phase of these magnetic nanoparticles, and stabilize the nanoparticles to avoid their aggregation. The samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and infrared and Mossbauer spectroscopies. Mossbauer results show that maghemite is the majority species in the SiO2 matrix (61.3 %) and TiO2 (63.0 %), respectively.