Sub-50 nm amorphous iron phosphate dihydrate nanoplates fabricated via liquid exfoliation from recycled steelmaking phosphate slag

Abstract

Amorphous iron phosphate dihydrate (FePO4·2H2O) nanoplates have been for the first time prepared via liquid exfoliation method. The nanoplates were exfoliated from the diethylamine-modified FePO4·2H2O that were sourced from recycled steelmaking slag. The obtained nanoplates feature in an average lateral size of 46.76 nm and transversal size of 31.62 nm with an average thickness of 30.4 nm. The amorphous structure was confirmed by material characterisation. The work provides a facile approach to obtain nanostructured iron phosphate that can be beneficial for the applications in energy storage devices and nano-fertilisers.