Temperature-controlled conversion from Fe–Si particles to integrated Fe–Si/SiO2 core–shell structure particles during fluidised bed chemical vapour deposition

Abstract

In the synthesis of ferromagnetic/SiO2 core–shell structures, the minimum formation conditions and evolution mechanism are worth investigating. In the present study, to determine the minimum formation temperature of an integrated Fe–Si/SiO2 core–shell structure during chemical vapour deposition in a fluidised bed, the effects of deposition temperature on the structural and magnetic performances of SiO2 insulation coatings on Fe–Si particles were investigated. Thermodynamic calculations and differential scanning calorimetry were used to understand the thermal decomposition of C8H20O4Si. The results of the theoretical and structural studies showed that the minimum deposition temperature of the amorphous SiO2 insulation coating on the Fe–Si particle surface was ~880 K and that the Fe–Si/SiO2 composite structure started to convert into an integrated Fe–Si/SiO2 core–shell structure after the deposition temperature was raised above 920 K. The increase in the thickness of the SiO2 insulation layer due to the increased deposition temperature was studied using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope analyses. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that four and five types of electronic structures existed in the SiO2 insulation shell for silicon and oxygen, respectively, and that only 32.74 at.% of the oxygen from the Si(OSi)3(OH) group interacted with the Fe–Si alloy surface. The results of the performance test indicated that the integrated Fe–Si/SiO2 core–shell structure led to a substantial enhancement in the electrical resistivity of the particles and reduction in their saturation magnetisation, but hardly affected the coercive force.