High-temperature hydrolytic sol-gel synthesis of monodisperse LiFe5O8 nanoparticles with high water solubility

Monodisperse β-LiFe₅O₈ nanoparticles with high solubility in water were synthesised through a high-temperature hydrolytic sol-gel route, using propylene oxide as gelation agent. The route combines the advantages of the epoxide sol-gel process and the crystallisation process at elevated temperature in high boiling point solvent. In this approach, chlorinated propanol was produced through the protonation and ring opening reaction of epoxide. This hydrophilic compound functionalises the surface of formed nanoparticles in situ during the heating process, not only resulting in their high solubility in water, but also leading to the protection of the particle from aggregation and further growth.