Synthesis and kinetic shape and size evolution of magnetite nanoparticles

Eleven nanometers of magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized by using 6 nm magnetite nanoparticles as seeds and Fe(acac)3 as precursor at high temperature. Growth kinetics of magnetite nanoparticles was studied during the progress of reaction. Magnetite nanoparticles with different shapes including near-sphere, tetrahedral, truncated tetrahedral and cubic were observed at different reaction time. Transmission electron microscopic results show that the shape and size distributions are time- and temperature-dependent. Hydrodynamic diameter results give the kinetic size distribution changes of magnetite nanoparticles during the reaction, which suggest that this synthesis underwent a “growth-controlled nucleation”.