Novel protocol for the solid-state synthesis of magnetite for medical practices.

Abstract

It is reported a novel approach to prepare nanoparticles of magnetite (Fe3O4) by heating a mixture of synthetic commercial maghemite (γ Fe2O3) with sucrose. This solidstate reaction leads to the chemical reduction of part of the Fe3+ of the precursor oxide to render Fe2+ and Fe3+ in octahedral and Fe3+ in tetrahedral sites of the Fe-O coordination framework. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns, FTIR and 298 K M¨ossbauer spectra confirm the conversion of maghemite into magnetite. Based on these results, the optimal sucrose:maghemite rate was found to be 4.