Synthesis of pure iron nanoparticles at liquid–liquid interface using pulsed plasma

Pure α-Fe nanoparticles with ≤10 nm size were synthesized using a simple method—pulsed plasma in liquid. This is the first time that pure metallic nanoparticles were prepared by arc discharge method using water–toluene interface as a medium. Several experiments made evident that toluene–water ratio in emulsion influences the purity and size of Fe nanoparticles. The purity of the nanoparticles gradually increased from 48 to 98 %, while particle size decreased from 21 to 9.5 nm with smaller toluene volume fraction (from 40 to 5 %) in the microemulsions. Finally, toluene:water with 95:5 (%) ratio was found to be the most appropriate medium for pure Fe nanoparticle formation. Lattice parameters of the obtained Fe samples calculated from XRD found to be larger (a = 0.2927 nm) than those previously reported Fe (a(BCC-Fe) = 0.2866 nm). HRTEM showed spherical-shaped Fe nanoparticles with partial aggregation. Vibrating sample magnetometer indicated superparamagnetic properties of particles with high-saturation magnetization (Ms = 125 emu g−1) at room temperature.