Scalable synthesis of dispersible iron carbide (Fe3C) nanoparticles by ‘nanocasting’

D. C. Fletcher, R. Hunter, W. Xia, G. J. Smales, B. R. Pauw, E. Blackburn, A. Kulak, Huolin Xin, Z. Schnepp

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)
210 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Metal carbides have shown great promise in a wide range of applications due to their unique catalytic, electrocatalytic and magnetic properties. However, the scalable production of dispersible metal carbide nanoparticles remains a challenge. Here, we report a simple and scalable route to dispersible iron carbide (Fe 3C) nanoparticles. This uses MgO nanoparticles as a removable 'cast' to synthesize Fe 3C nanoparticles from Prussian blue (KFe III[Fe II(CN) 6]). Electron tomography demonstrates how nanoparticles of the MgO cast encase the Fe 3C nanoparticles to prevent sintering and agglomeration during the higherature synthesis. The MgO cast is readily removed with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to generate Fe 3C nanoparticles that can be used to produce a colloidal ferrofluid or dispersed on a support material.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)19506-19512
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume7
Issue number33
Early online date5 Aug 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Sept 2019

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Materials Science(all)

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