Synthesis of poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)-capped Fe3O4 nanoclusters by hydrothermal method.

Abstract

In the present work, we report the synthesis of poly (ethylene glycol)-capped iron oxide nanoclusters of spherical morphology by hydrothermal method. The synthesized particles were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM)/Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The effects of reaction parameters such as reaction temperature, time and hydrolysis ratio on the properties of PEG capped Fe3O4 have been studied. XRD confirms the presence of cubic spinel structure of Fe3O4 phase. FESEM images show spherical morphology of particles and particle sizes are ∼ 100 to 200 nm. DLS analysis shows the hydrodynamic size to be ∼ 151 to 512 nm for PEG capped Fe3O4nanoclusters dispersed in water. FT-IR confirms coating of PEG on Fe3O4 surface.