Effect of Surfactants on Modifying the Surface of Magnetic Nanoparticles by Thermal Decomposition

Abstract

The nanosize magnetic particles were synthesized by thermal decomposition method with size distribution in the range of 10 ~ 30 nm. Different category and quantity of surfactants were used modifying the surface of the synthesized nanoparticles to control the particles’ shape and size. Multi-shapes, such as uniformity cubic, mixture of spherical and cubic, and the similar chick footmarks, were acquired in our experiment by different surfactants. It indicates the surfactant is a key factor for the size and shape of particles. The surfactants of PVP and oleylamine made the particle shape be uniformity cubic; However, the particle partly behaved as spherical shape in the case of using PVP and oleic acid as surfactants.