Iron (Fe) magnetic nanoparticles have myriad potential and practical applications in catalysis in addition to information storage and electronics. In a society heavily dependent on transportation fuels, there is an increasing need to find an effective method for cleaning fuel. Nanoparticles are optimal for this catalytic purpose because of their small size and increased surface area. Moreover, as the data storage industry creates ever-shrinking devices, the largest hurdle has been to create a uniform thin magnetic film for magnetic recording [1]. As a solution, research has turned to iron (Fe) nanoparticles, due to the large surface area.

Two methods were used to synthesized Fe and Fe-based nanoparticles. The first method involved the thermal decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl (Fe (CO)5) confined by micelles of Pluronic® triblock copolymers ((EO)x(PO)y(EO)x) formed in the solvent mesitylene (C9H12). The procedure was carried out carefully and in a Hydrogen-Argon atmosphere to prevent oxidation. Chromium hexacarbonyl (Cr (CO)6) in addition to iron pentacarbonyl was used to create alloy nanoparticles in a 9:1 ratio. The second method also synthesized iron nanoparticles using thermal decomposition. However, these nanoparticles initiated the polymerization of the styrene monomer, producing a polystyrene matrix encapsulating the Fe nanoparticles [2].

Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnotometry was conducted on both the pure Fe nanoparticles and Fe-Cr alloy nanoparticles. SQUID analysis suggests a 33% increase in magnetization in the Fe-Cr alloy nanoparticles when compared to the Fe nanoparticles (Figure A and B). This phenomenon may be a result of the Cr support. Transmission Electron Microscopy suggests the nanoparticles are of approximately 5nm and of uniform size. Mossbauer spectroscopy will be performed to conclusively determine paramagnetism. Further analysis will be conducted in order to establish the use of these nanoparticles for catalysis in hydrosulfurization using Gas Chromatography. This study was supported by the Simons Summer Research Fellowship Program.

[1] Jaroslaw Wosik, Lian Xue, Lei-Ming Xie . " Ferromagnetic Resonance of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications." http://www.eps.org/aps/meet/MAR03/baps/abs/S8890011.html (2003)
[2] Yang, N-L & Desai, A & Mahajan, D & Rafailovich, M, Topics in Catalysis submitted (2003).