Surfactant-bound fe3o4 nanoparticles as catalyst support: synthesis and physicochemical properties

Abstract

Magnetic nanoparticles are highly valuable solid support for the attachment of homogeneous inorganic catalyst and organocatalyst. In this study, surfactant-bound Fe3O4 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via a co-precipitation method between FeCl3.6H2O and FeCl2.4H2O, in which sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was applied as a stabilizing agent. The use of surfactant was also to avoid the agglomeration process during the catalytic activity. Different techniques were employed to characterize the synthesized magnetic nanoparticles, such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy/Electron Dispersive X-ray (FESEM/EDX), Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) Surface Area Analysis. The specific surface area analysis of surfactant-bound Fe3O4 nanoparticles gave a higher value (117 m2/g) with large pore volume (0.40 cm3/g) compared to bare iron oxide. The VSM pattern demonstrates superparamagnetic properties of magnetic nanoparticles with saturation magnetization Ms, 53.98 emu/g. The analyses obtained recommended the surfactant- bound Fe3O4 nanoparticles potentially to be used as solid support for catalytic applications due to their unique properties, for example high surface area, superparamagnetism, and well-dispersed material.