Mechanochemical Synthesis of Niobium Pentoxide Nanoparticles

Abstract

Acicular α-FeOOH particles are formed through aging of ferric oxyhydroxide colloidal solution formed by the neutralization of FeCl 3 aqueous solution by NaOH. The effect of foreign ion addition to the colloidal solution on the formation and morphology of α-FeOOH particles has been investigated. The magnetic properties of Fe 3 O 4 particles made from the obtained particles have also been investigated. The rate constant of the formation of α-FeOOH remarkably decreased, but the crystallite size of α-FeOOH particles increased with increasing the quantity of phosphate ion added even with small amounts. These results have been explained as follows: the phosphate ions are selectively adsorbed on the (a) plane of α-FeOOH, cover the (a) plane, and block the crystal growth of the (a) plane of the α-FeOOH. The quantities of the phosphate ion adsorbed on the b and c planes are relatively small. The complex ion of Fe(OH) 4 - is preferentially deposited on both (b) and (c) planes, and the crystal growth of (b) and (c) planes is greatly accelerated. The relationship between the morphology of the formed α-FeOOH particles and the quantity of phosphate ion added has been investigated. The asterisk type particles: α-FeOOH particles heterogeneously junctioned to α-Fe 2 O 3 particles, were formed when a small amount of phosphate was added to the mother liquid. The α-FeOOH crystal epitaxially grew on the junction interface with the α-Fe 2 O 3 crystal. In the case of the aging at the temperature as high as 80°C, the cross type junctioned particles were stably formed at pH below 12.0. The Fe 3 O 4 particles with screw-like unique three-dimensional morphology were produced from the heterogeneously junctioned particles.