Plasmachemical synthesis of maghemite nanoparticles in atmospheric pressure microwave torch

Abstract

The powder of γ − Fe 2O 3 nanoparticles was synthesized in microwave torch at atmospheric pressure from 0.05 sccm of Fe(CO) 5 vapors in 670 sccm of argon. The optimization of the torch reactor design and deposition conditions allowed continual synthesis of γ − Fe 2O 3 nanoparticles at low power consumption. The synthesized powder was collected at the reactor walls and analyzed by TEM, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy without any further purification or treatment. The mean diameter of NPs, as observed by TEM, was 12 nm with a 90% confidence interval 5.5–22 nm.