Synthesis of metal-carbon nanoparticles in pulsed UV-photolysis of Fe(CO)5-CCl4 mixtures at room temperature

Abstract

Synthesis of iron-carbon nanoparticles in joint photolysis of iron pentacarbonyl (Fe(CO)5) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) has been studied. When mixtures containing iron pentacarbonyl and CCl4 are exposed to UV light, Fe(CO)5 molecules decompose to yield an atomic vapor of iron with well-known and easily controlled parameters, whereas CCl4 molecules decompose to give CCl3 radicals. A pulsed Nd:YAG laser (fourth harmonic, 266 nm) served as a source of light. The growth process of nanoparticles in condensation of supersaturated vapors was monitored by the laser extinction method; nanoparticle samples were examined with an atomic-force microscope. It was found that the concentration of the CCl4 additive affects the manner in which the optical properties of nanoparticles synthesized in a binary mixture change relative to the properties of nanoparticles synthesized in photolysis of pure Fe(CO)5, which indicates that a carbon shell grows on the surface of iron nanoparticles.