Iron nitride nanoparticles synthesized by inert gas condensation

ORAL

Abstract

Inert gas condensation (IGC) is a highly versatile technique to synthesize monodisperse nanoparticles (NP). Earlier research done in our group on iron oxide nanoparticles and Fe- and Co- based fluids suggests that these NP's are well suited for magnetic drug delivery, however, their utility would be dramatically enhanced if they exhibited higher saturation magnetization. Iron-oxide nanoparticles are the most commonly studied system; however, the saturation magnetization (70-90 emu/g) is considerably lower than pure Fe (210 emu/g). Fe NPs tend to oxidize easily, so we are exploring Fe-N and Fe-C alternatives. We have used IGC to synthesize Fe-N nanoparticles (mean sizes $\sim $ 10-20 nm) using Fe deposition followed by gaseous nitrogenation, and via reactive inert-gas condensation. Post-deposition nitrogenation does not form Fe-N phases, nor protect the nanoparticles from oxidation. By reactive sputtering with varying relative concentration of N:Ar, we can produce Fe$_{x}$N phases ranging from x=1 (non-magnetic $\gamma $-FeN) x=4. A systematic study of nitride phase formation as a function of Ar/N$_{2}$ ratio during sputtering will be reported.

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Authors

  • Prasanna Shah

    Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080

  • Mikhail Zhernenkov

    Angelo State University Department of Physics, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas Tech University, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Univeristy of Central Florida-College of Optics and Photonics, BAE Systems, University of Alberta Department of Physics, Istanbul University Department of Physics, Texas Tech University Department of Physics, Istanbul University, Beyazit, University of Alberta, Edmonton, UTD, TAMS at UNT, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, University at Albany, Dept. of Physics, University of New Orleans, University of Texas at Arlington, Prairie View A\&M University, Chemistry, UTSA, Sciprint.org, Texas Tech University Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas State University, Punjab U, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas, Dept. of Physics, Texas State University, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, Department of Physics, Texas A\&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4242, Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Volta Redonda, RJ, Brazil, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil, Department of Physics, Texas A\&M University, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, University of Texas Arlington, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Max Plank Institute, Dresden, Germany, Education Consultant, APS, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Physics, Texas A\&M University, College Station, TX 77843, LANSCE, Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Mikhail Zhernenkov

    Angelo State University Department of Physics, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas Tech University, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Univeristy of Central Florida-College of Optics and Photonics, BAE Systems, University of Alberta Department of Physics, Istanbul University Department of Physics, Texas Tech University Department of Physics, Istanbul University, Beyazit, University of Alberta, Edmonton, UTD, TAMS at UNT, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, University at Albany, Dept. of Physics, University of New Orleans, University of Texas at Arlington, Prairie View A\&M University, Chemistry, UTSA, Sciprint.org, Texas Tech University Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas State University, Punjab U, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas, Dept. of Physics, Texas State University, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080, Department of Physics, Texas A\&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4242, Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Volta Redonda, RJ, Brazil, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil, Department of Physics, Texas A\&M University, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, University of Texas Arlington, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Max Plank Institute, Dresden, Germany, Education Consultant, APS, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Physics, Texas A\&M University, College Station, TX 77843, LANSCE, Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Diandra L. Leslie-Pelecky

    University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson TX 75080