title: Fine tuning of magnetite nanoparticle size distribution using dissymmetric potential pulses in the presence of biocompatible surfactants and the electrochemical characterization of the nanoparticles.
abstract: The effects of varying the surfactant concentration and the anodic pulse potential on the properties and electrochemical behaviors of magnetite nanoparticles were investigated. The nanoparticles were synthesized with an electrochemical method based on applying dissymmetric potential pulses, which offers the advantage that can be used to tune the particle size distribution very precisely in the range of 10 to 50 nm. Under the conditions studied, the surfactant concentration directly affects the size distribution, with higher concentrations producing narrower distributions. Linear voltammetry was used to characterize the electrochemical behavior of the synthesized nanoparticles in both the anodic and cathodic regions, which are attributed to the oxidation of Fe(2+) and the reduction of Fe(3+); these species are part of the spinel structure of magnetite. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data indicated that the reduction and oxidation reactions of the nanoparticles are not controlled by the mass transport step, but by the charge transfer step. The sample with the highest saturation magnetization was that synthesized in the presence of polyethylene glycol.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Metrología, Km 4.5 Carretera a Los Cués, C. P. 76246 El Marqués, Querétaro, Mexico.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-López
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Metalurgia, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Sierra Leona No. 550, Lomas segunda sección, C. P. 78210 San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cruz-Rivera
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Metalurgia, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Sierra Leona No. 550, Lomas segunda sección, C. P. 78210 San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Elías-Alfaro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Materiales Metálicos y Cerámicos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, D. F. C.P. 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Betancourt
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Electroquímica, S. C. Parque Tecnológico Querétaro - Sanfandila, C.P. 76703 Pedro Escobedo, Querétaro, Mexico.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Silva
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Electroquímica, S. C. Parque Tecnológico Querétaro - Sanfandila, C.P. 76703 Pedro Escobedo, Querétaro, Mexico. Electronic address: rantano@cideteq.mx.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Antaño-López
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles; D011208:Powders; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011208:Powders; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide
keywords: Biocompatible surfactants; Dissymmetric pulses; Electrochemical synthesis; Magnetite nanoparticles