Synthesis of Fe nanoparticles functionalized with oleic acid synthesized by inert gas condensation

Abstract

In this work, we study the synthesis of monodispersed Fe nanoparticles (Fe-NPs) in situ functionalized with oleic acid. The nanoparticles were self-assembled by inert gas condensation (IGC) technique by using magnetron-sputtering process. Structural characterization of Fe-NPs was performed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Particle size control was carried out through the following parameters: (i) condensation zone length, (ii) magnetron power, and (iii) gas flow (Ar and He). Typically the nanoparticles generated by IGC showed diameters which ranged from 0.7 to 20 nm. Mass spectroscopy of Fe-NPs in the deposition system allowed the study of in situ nanoparticle formation, through a quadrupole mass filter (QMF) that one can use together with a mass filter. When the deposition system works without quadrupole mass filter, the particle diameter distribution is around +/-20%. When the quadrupole is in line, then the distribution can be reduced to around +/-2%.