In recent years, magnetic nanostructured materials have drawn much attention due to their unique properties and extensive applications in biomedical imaging, catalysis, electrochemistry, gas sensors and so on. In this paper, coralloid Fe3O4 nanoclusters composed of primary nanosheet congeries have been successfully synthesized using ferric nitrate as the precursor by ionic liquid-assisted solvothermal method; meanwhile, only spherical Fe3O4 nanoclusters were synthesized in the absence of the ionic liquid. The morphology and structure of the products were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results indicate the ionic liquid 1-n-decyl-2-methylimidazolium chloride plays an important role in controlling the growth direction of building blocks via selectively adsorbing on the specific facet of the nanocrystals. A formation mechanism has been proposed based on the interaction between the ionic liquid and Fe3O4 crystal planes. The synthesized magnetic nanoclusters may show broad potential applications due to their outstanding properties such as high surface area and exposing specific crystal facet. This strategy provides a new approach to morphology and structure-controlled synthesis of various nanomaterials.

Morphology-controlled synthesis of Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoclusters in an ionic liquid

248th National Meeting (2014)

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Morphology-controlled synthesis of Fe3O4 nanoclusters in an ionic liquid

Morphology-controlled synthesis of Fe₃O₄ nanoclusters in an ionic liquid