Tailoring the magnetic properties of FexCo(1-x) nanopowders prepared by a polyol process.

Precise control over the magnetic properties of FeCo alloys is of scientific significance, due to their high Curie points and saturation magnetizations, and of broad interest for applications such as transformer cores, induction motors, switching devices, and hyperthermia. The magnetic properties of FexCo(1-x) alloy-based nanopowders prepared by polyol synthesis and their relationship with morphological features and the evolution of the microstructure were investigated using a design of experiments (DoE) approach. Proportionalities related to the magnetic properties, saturation magnetization (Ms) and coercivity (Hc), were identified where Ms ∝ (110) crystallite size of FeCo (bcc) and Hc ∝ particle diameter for the as-synthesized FexCo(1-x) nanopowders. Adjusting the reaction composition allows for control of the FeCo (bcc) (110) crystallite size from 20-45 nm represented by a response surface model. Morphological features of the as-synthesized nanopowders include particles interlinked as chains, and particles either in the form of cuboids or spheroids, all with diameters ranging from 75-175 nm. FexCo(1-x) alloy was confirmed by XRD in each nanopowder while few contained a combination of phases which include Co (fcc), or ferrite (CoFe2O4), or both. Depending on composition, particle dimension, and microstructure, the Ms ranged from 90-215 emu g-1 with Hc from 90-400 Oe for all nanopowders synthesized by the sub-reflux, isothermal condition (150 °C). Tailoring the magnetic properties of FexCo(1-x) alloy-based nanopowders is accomplished chemically by identifying and regulating significant reaction parameters and conditions.

Monitoring the formation of carbide crystal phases during the thermal decomposition of 3d transition metal dicarboxylate complexes.

Single molecule precursors can help to simplify the synthesis of complex alloys by minimizing the amount of necessary starting reagents. However, single molecule precursors are time consuming to prepare with very few being commercially available. In this study, a simple precipitation method is used to prepare Fe, Co, and Ni fumarate and succinate complexes. These complexes were then thermally decomposed in an inert atmosphere to test their efficiency as single molecule precursors for the formation of metal carbide phases. Elevated temperature X-ray diffraction was used to identify the crystal phases produced upon decomposition of the metal dicarboxylate complexes. Thermogravimetric analysis coupled with an infrared detector was used to identify the developed gaseous decomposition products. All complexes tested showed a reduction from the starting M(2+) oxidation state to the M(0) oxidation state, upon decomposition. Also, each complex tested showed CO2 and H2O as gaseous decomposition products. Nickel succinate, iron succinate, and iron fumarate complexes were found to form carbide phases upon decomposition. This proves that transition metal dicarboxylate salts can be employed as efficient single molecule precursors for the formation of metal carbide crystal phases.

Modified Seed Growth of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Benzyl Alcohol - Optimization for Heating and Broad Stability in Biomedical Applications.

Iron oxide nanoparticles have received sustained interest for biomedical applications as synthetic approaches are continually developed for control of nanoparticle properties. However, many approaches focus solely on the material, rather than the complete optimization of synthesis and functionalization together to enhance translation into biological systems. Presented herein is a modified seed growth method designed for obtaining optimal nanoparticle properties and ease of surface functionalization for long term stability. With a one or two addition process, iron oxide nanoparticles were produced in crystallite sizes ranging from 5-15 nm using only benzyl alcohol and an iron precursor. In the functionalization process, concentration variations were required for stabilizing different nanoparticle sizes. Radio frequency induction heating experiments of various crystallite and hydrodynamic sizes verified that the heating efficiency greatly increased while approaching the 15 nm crystallite, and suggested an important role of the overall particle size on heating efficiency. Initial in vitro experiments with the functionalized nanoparticles showed success in providing hyperthermia-induced tumour cell killing without an increase in the temperature of the cell suspension medium. This demonstrates the potential for nanoparticle-based hyperthermia to provide a therapeutic effect while limiting normal tissue damage.

Plasmonics and enhanced magneto-optics in core-shell co-ag nanoparticles.

We present theoretical and experimental studies that explain the observed strong enhancement of the magneto-optical (MO) Faraday rotation in all-metal core-shell Co-Ag nanoparticles (NPs) attributed to localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). We also explain why the optical absorption and MO spectra peaks appear blue-shifted with increased Co core size while keeping the NP size constant. Further, we demonstrate direct correlation between the strong LSPR induced electromagnetic fields and the enhanced MO activity of the NPs.

Synthesis and characterization of homo- and heterodinuclear M(II)-M'(III) (M(II) = Mn or Fe, M'(III) = Fe or Co) mixed-valence supramolecular pseudo-dimers. The effect of hydrogen bonding on spin state selection of M(II).

Reaction of H(3)L(1), the Schiff base condensate of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine with three equivalents of 5-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxaldehyde, with manganese(II)perchlorate or iron(II)tetrafluoroborate results in the isolation of [MH(3)L(1)]X(2) (M = Mn and X = ClO(4) and M = Fe and X = BF(4)). These complexes are high spin d(5) and d(6), respectively, as inferred from the long M-N bond distances obtained by single crystal X-ray diffraction for both and variable temperature magnetic susceptibility and Mössbauer spectroscopy for the iron complex. Aerobic treatment of a solution of [CoH(3)L(1)](2+) with three equivalents of potassium hydroxide produced [CoL(1)]. Homonuclear pseudo-dimers were prepared by the aerobic reaction of [FeH(3)L(1)](BF(4))(2) with 1.5 equivalents of potassium hydroxide to give {[FeH(1.5)L(1)](BF(4))}(2) or by the metathesis reaction of [FeH(2)L(1)][FeHL(1)](ClO(4))(2) with sodium hexafluorophosphate to give [FeH(3)L(1)][FeL(1)](PF(6))(2). The complexes were characterized by EA, IR, ESI-MS, variable temperature single crystal x-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The iron(III) atom is low spin while the iron(II) atom is spin crossover. Heteronuclear pseudo-dimers were prepared by the 1:1 reaction of [FeH(3)L(1)](BF(4))(2) or [MnH(3)L(1)](ClO(4))(2) with [CoL(1)]. [MH(3)L(1)][CoL(1)](X)(2) (M = Fe and X = BF(4) or M = Mn and X = ClO(4)), were characterized by IR, EA, variable temperature single crystal X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy in the iron case. The data support a spin crossover and high spin assignment for the iron(II) and manganese(II), respectively. DFT calculations demonstrate that the spin state of the iron(II) atom in {[FeH(3)L(1)][FeL(1)]}(2+) changes from high spin to low spin as the iron(II)-iron(III) distance decreases. This is supported by experimental results and is a result of hydrogen bonding interactions which cause a significant compression of the M(II)-N(pyrazole) bond distances.

A copper-polyol complex: [Na2(C2H6O2)6][Cu(C2H4O2)2].

The ionic title complex, bis(mu-ethylene glycol)-kappa(3)O,O':O';kappa(3)O:O,O'-bis[(ethylene glycol-kappa(2)O,O')(ethylene glycol-kappaO)sodium] bis(ethylene glycolato-kappa(2)O,O')copper(II), [Na(2)(C(2)H(6)O(2))(6)][Cu(C(2)H(4)O(2))(2)], was obtained from a basic solution of CuCl(2) in ethylene glycol and consists of discrete ions interconnected by O-H...O hydrogen bonds. This is the first example of a disodium-ethylene glycol complex cation cluster. The cation lies about an inversion center and the Cu(II) atom of the anion lies on another independent inversion center.

More fluorous surface modifier makes it less oleophobic: fluorinated siloxane copolymer/PDMS coatings.

A copolyacrylate with semifluorinated and polydimethylsiloxane side chains (D5-3) was used as a surface modifier for a condensation-cured PDMS coating. The decyl fluorous group is represented by "D"; "5" is a 5 kDa silicone, and "3" is the mole ratio of fluorous to silicone side chains. Wetting behavior was assessed by dynamic contact angle (DCA) analysis using isopropanol, which differentiates silicone and fluorous wetting behavior. Interestingly, a maximum in surface oleophobicity was found at low D5-3 concentration (0.4 wt %). Higher concentrations result in decreased oleophobicity, as reflected in decreased contact angles. To understand this unexpected observation, dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies were initiated on a model system consisting of hydroxyl-terminated PDMS (18 kDa) containing varying amounts of D5-3. DLS revealed D5-3 aggregation to be a function of temperature and concentration. A model is proposed by which D5-3 surface concentration is depleted via phase separation favoring D5-3 aggregation at concentrations >0.4 wt %, that is, the cmc. This model suggests increasing aggregate/micelle concentrations at increased D5-3 concentration. Bulk morphologies studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) support this model by showing increased aggregate concentrations with increased D5-3 > 0.4 wt %.

Nickel ferrite aerogels with monodisperse nanoscale building blocks--the importance of processing temperature and atmosphere.

Using two-step (air/argon) thermal processing, sol-gel-derived nickel-iron oxide aerogels are transformed into monodisperse, networked nanocrystalline magnetic oxides of NiFe(2)O(4) with particle diameters that can be ripened with increasing temperature under argon to 4.6, 6.4, and 8.8 nm. Processing in air alone yields poorly crystalline materials; heating in argon alone leads to single phase, but diversiform, polydisperse NiFe(2)O(4), which hampers interpretation of the magnetic properties of the nanoarchitectures. The two-step method yields an improved model system to study magnetic effects as a function of size on the nanoscale while maintaining the particles within the size regime of single domain magnets, as networked building blocks, not agglomerates, and without stabilizing ligands capping the surface.

Reactive nature of dopamine as a surface functionalization agent in iron oxide nanoparticles.

Dopamine forms an initial structure coordinated to the surface of the iron oxide nanoparticle as a result of improved orbital overlap of the five-membered ring and a reduced steric environment of the iron complex. However, through transfer of electrons to the iron cations on the surface and rearrangement of the oxidized dopamine, a semiquinone is formed. Because of free protons in the system, oxygens on the surface are protonated, which allows for the Fe2+ to be released into the solution as a hydroxide. This released fragment of the nanoparticle will then eventually oxidize in air to a form of an iron(III) oxyhydroxide. All of the reported results demonstrate that the reactivity between Fe3+ and dopamine quickly facilitates the degradation of the nanoparticles. The energetic modeling studies substantiate our proposed decomposition mechanism and thus conclude that the use of dopamine as a robust anchor for iron oxide or iron oxide shell particles will not fulfill the need for stable ferrofluids in most biomedical applications.

Synthesis and characterization of a spin crossover iron(II)-iron(III) mixed valence supramolecular pseudo-dimer exhibiting chiral recognition, hydrogen bonding, and pi-pi interactions.

Reaction of iron(II) and the 3 : 1 Schiff base condensate of 5-methylpyrazole-3-carboxaldehyde and tris(2-aminoethyl)amine in air gives a pseudo-dimer complex with a triple helix structure made of Delta-Delta and Lambda-Lambda pairings of spin crossover iron(II) and low spin iron(III) cations that are held together by three pi-pi and hydrogen bonding interactions.

Synthesis and characterization of manganese(II) and iron(III) d5 tripodal imidazole complexes. Effect of oxidation state, protonation state and ligand conformation on coordination number and spin state.

The 1 : 3 Schiff base condensates of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (tren) or tris(3-aminopropyl)amine (trpn) with 4-methyl-5-imidazolecarboxaldehyde, H3L1 and H3L2, respectively, were generated in situ and used to prepare complexes with manganese(II) and iron(III). The resultant complexes, [MnH3L1](ClO4)2, [MnH3L1](ClO4)2.EtOH.H2O, [MnH3L2](ClO4)2, [FeH3L1](ClO4)3.1.5(EtOH) and [FeHL1](I3) (0.525)(I)(0.475).2.625H2O, have been characterized by EA, IR, ES MS, variable temperature magnetic susceptibility, X-ray crystallography, and Mössbauer spectroscopy for the iron complexes. The three manganese(II) complexes are high spin with [MnH3L2](ClO4)2 exhibiting coordination number seven while the others are six coordinate. [FeH3L1](ClO4)3.1.5(EtOH) has two iron sites, a seven coordinate and a pseudo seven coordinate site. The complex is high spin at room temperature but exhibits a magnetic moment that decreases with temperature corresponding to conversion of one of the sites to low spin. [FeHL1](I3) (0.525)(I)(0.475).2.625H2O is low spin even at room temperature. In the present complexes the apical nitrogen atom, N(ap), of the tripodal ligand is pyramidal and directed toward the metal atom. The data show that the M-N(ap) distance decreases as the oxidation state of the metal increases, as the number of bound imidazole protons on the ligand increases, and as the number of carbon atoms in the backbone of the ligand (tren vs. trpn) increases. In a limiting sense, short M-N(ap) distances result in high spin seven coordinate mono capped octahedral complexes and long M-N(ap) distances result in low spin six coordinate octahedral complexes.

Synthesis and characterization of seven-coordinate tripodal imidazole complexes of iron(II) and manganese(II).

The iron(II) and manganese(II) complexes of the N(7) Schiff-base condensate of tris(3-aminopropyl)amine with 1-methyl-2-imidazolecarbaldehyde and the manganese(II) complex of the N(7) Schiff-base condensate of tris(3-aminopropyl)amine with 4-imidazolecarbaldehyde are high-spin mono capped octahedral seven-coordinate complexes with a short, approximately 2.44 è, metal to apical nitrogen bond.

Atomic engineering of mixed ferrite and core-shell nanoparticles.

Nanoparticulate ferrites such as manganese zinc ferrite and nickel zinc ferrite hold great promise for advanced applications in power electronics. The use of these materials in current applications requires fine control over the nanoparticle size as well as size distribution to maximize their packing density. While there are several techniques for the synthesis of ferrite nanoparticles, reverse micelle techniques provide the greatest flexibility and control over size, crystallinity, and magnetic properties. Recipes for the synthesis of manganese zinc ferrite, nickel zinc ferrite, and an enhanced ferrite are presented along with analysis of the crystalline and magnetic properties. Comparisons are made on the quality of nanoparticles produced using different surfactant systems. The importance of various reaction conditions is explored with a discussion on the corresponding effects on the magnetic properties, particle morphology, stoichiometry, crystallinity, and phase purity.

Nanocrystalline iron oxide aerogels as mesoporous magnetic architectures.

We have developed crystalline nanoarchitectures of iron oxide that exhibit superparamagnetic behavior while still retaining the desirable bicontinuous pore-solid networks and monolithic nature of an aerogel. Iron oxide aerogels are initially produced in an X-ray-amorphous, high-surface-area form, by adapting recently established sol-gel methods using Fe(III) salts and epoxide-based proton scavengers. Controlled temperature/atmosphere treatments convert the as-prepared iron oxide aerogels into nanocrystalline forms with the inverse spinel structure. As a function of the bathing gas, treatment temperature, and treatment history, these nanocrystalline forms can be reversibly tuned to predominantly exhibit either Fe(3)O(4) (magnetite) or gamma-Fe(2)O(3) (maghemite) phases, as verified by electron microscopy, X-ray and electron diffraction, microprobe Raman spectroscopy, and magnetic analysis. Peak deconvolution of the Raman-active Fe-O bands yields valuable information on the local structure and vacancy content of the various aerogel forms, and facilitates the differentiation of Fe(3)O(4) and gamma-Fe(2)O(3) components, which are difficult to assign using only diffraction methods. These nanocrystalline, magnetic forms retain the inherent characteristics of aerogels, including high surface area (>140 m(2) g(-1)), through-connected porosity concentrated in the mesopore size range (2-50 nm), and nanoscale particle sizes (7-18 nm). On the basis of this synthetic and processing protocol, we produce multifunctional nanostructured materials with effective control of the pore-solid architecture, the nanocrystalline phase, and subsequent magnetic properties.