Synthesis and characterization of magnetite Fe3O4 nanoparticles by a rapid method

The magnetic properties of iron oxides have been studied in various ranges of applications including magnetic recording media, catalysts and Ferro fluids [1-3]. So in this work we synthesis of a nano sized Fe3O4 by a simple method and characterized by some methods, X-ray Diffraction (XRD); Infra-red Spectroscopy (IR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). A Fe (II) solution was prepared by using 5 g of FeSO4.7H2O and dissolved in 35 ml of distilled water in a 50 ml round bottom flask under nitrogen gas. In a separate flask 0.40 g of KNO3 and 2.80 g of KOH were dissolved in 15 ml distilled water (solution b) at 90˚C in an oil bath. Solution b was added drop wise for 5 minutes into the Fe(II) under nitrogen gas yielding a black solution. The solution was maintained in the bath at 90˚C for an hour to ensure homogeneity of the solution, and was left overnight at the same temperature. After 15 hours the nanoparticles were separated magnetically and washed with 30 ml water for six times and dried in an oven 95 C for 2 hours