Characterization of Iron and Its Nitride Nanoparticles Prepared by CVC Process without Using a Chiller

Abstract

Iron and its nitride (e-Fe3N) nanoparticles were fabricated by the CVC using Fe(CO)5 precursor without the aid of LN2 chiller. The iron particles synthesized at 400 oC were a mixture of amorphous and crystalline a-Fe. Fully crystallized iron particles were then obtained above 600 oC. Iron-nitride particles that were easily formed at 500 oC at 1 atm., however, were not fully developed in vacuum unless the reaction temperature reached 850 oC. Nevertheless, the work chamber needed to be maintained in vacuum to obtain finer iron-nitride particles. The synthesized particles possessing the core-shell type structure were all nearly spherical and enclosed with Fe3O4 or Fe3O4-related amorphous layer. The iron nanoparticles (~20 nm) synthesized at 600 oC at 760 torr exhibited iHc ~ 1.0 kOe and Ms ~ 170 emu/g, whereas the iron-nitride particles (~20 nm) synthesized at 850 oC at 0.01 torr exhibited iHc ~ 0.45 kOe and Ms ~ 115 emu/g.