Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: How They Are Made and Their Properties for Various Applications

Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: How They Are Made and Their Properties for Various Applications

July 19, 2022 0 By Techinstro

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IOR) play an essential role in various fields. The use of nanoparticles for the treatment of diseases has become common. Iron Oxide nanoparticles are used in many different industries such as cosmetics, food and beverages, packaging, paint, textiles, and soil remediation. Many benefits come with using iron oxides and disadvantages to be aware of when incorporating this material into your products or solutions.
Many upcoming technologies can be used for various purposes in today’s world. For example, 3D printing and nanotechnology have become very popular in the manufacturing industry; these two technologies are used to make different types of things, from simple components to complex products. Nanotechnology is a field of science that deals with materials with fewer than 100 nanometers. Oxide nanoparticles are small in size, and they have a metallic appearance. They also possess good electrical, thermal, magnetic, and catalytic properties that make them suitable for various industrial applications. Learn more about the properties of iron oxide nanoparticles, how they are made, their applications, and potential risks associated with their usage.

What are Iron Oxide Nanoparticles?

Iron oxide nanoparticles are the smallest particulate phase of iron oxide, with a minimum size of 5 nm. Iron oxides are compounds of iron with oxygen atoms and are widely used in various industries as pigment and pigment carriers. Iron oxides are usually hydrated by adding water or acetic acid, depending on the desired properties. Iron oxide nanopowder is generally spherical and has a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) application due to its excellent optical and electrical properties. They use in various applications such as pigments, polymers, paints, paper, and sunscreen formulations. They are transparent and do not interfere with the light transmission. They can be used as a sunscreen ingredient that prevents the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays from penetrating the skin.

Properties of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

• Transparency: The iron oxide nanoparticles are transparent and do not interfere with the light transmission.
• Low Aggregation: They do not agglomerate and have excellent dispersion properties.
• Excellent Thermoelectricity: They exhibit excellent thermoelectricity and are used in solar energy conversion.
• Resistance to Oxidation: They are resistant to oxidation and are also used to make thermoplastics.
• Low Molecular Weight: They have low molecular weights and are used to make polymers and paper.
• Good Emulsification: They are used in making emulsions because of their ability to act as a dispersant.
• Resistance to UV Rays: They exhibit excellent UV resistance due to their metallic appearance.

How Are Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Made?

The iron oxide nanoparticles are usually hydrated by adding water or acetic acid, depending on the desired properties. The iron oxides are mixed with a strong acid, and water is added to form a hydrate. The iron oxides are coated with the acid, and the mixture is heated under pressure. The mixture’s temperature is increased up to 300°C, and then the pressure is reduced. The water molecules are bound to the iron oxides, forming pores in them. The hydrothermal method can further modify the iron oxides, making them more stable. Iron oxide nanopowder is also synthesized in various ways, such as oxidative, thermal reduction, hydrothermal, etc. The oxidative method involves oxidizing iron oxide nanoparticles with a potent oxidizing agent. The thermal reduction method uses iron oxide nanoparticles as a reducing agent to reduce aldehydes and ketones. The hydrothermal method uses iron oxide nanoparticles as a catalyst to transform organic molecules. The synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles uses various solvents to dissolve iron oxide. Some solvents synthesizing iron oxide nanoparticles include dichloromethane, chloroform, and ethanol.

Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Applications

• Pigment: They are used as pigments because of their metallic appearance. They can be used to make paints, paper, and plastics.
• Functionalization: They are also used to modify organic molecules. The organic molecules are modified to produce bioactive agents like antioxidants, phytochemicals, and vitamins.
• Electronic Applications: They are used in various applications due to their excellent electrical conductivity. They are used in the field of sensors and energy conversion applications.
• Thermoelectricity: They exhibit excellent thermoelectricity and are used in converting solar energy into electricity.
• Polymer Application: They can also be used to make polymers due to their low molecular weights. They are used in many plastic products like transparent and colored plastics, paper, and paints.

Potential Risks Associated with Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

They are potent skin irritants. When these nanoparticles are used as a sunscreen ingredient, they can cause skin irritation when they come in contact with the skin. They are also potent allergens that cause an allergic reaction in humans. They can cause severe skin reactions and even an allergic reaction in humans. Therefore, they should be used with utmost caution and care. As iron oxide nanoparticles are potent allergens, they should not be used in paints and plastics due to their powerful skin irritants. Due to their low molecular weight, they should only be used in cosmetics and drugs. They are potent allergens that cause skin irritation when they come in contact with the skin. Iron oxide nanoparticles are also potent allergens that cause an allergic reaction in humans.

Conclusion

Iron oxide nanopowder is excellent in appearance and thermal and electrical properties. It can also be used as organic and inorganic catalysts in various chemical reactions. Iron oxide powder can be used in many applications due to its excellent optical and electrical properties. It can be toxic when it comes in contact with the skin. It is a potent allergen that causes skin irritation. They can also be used as organic catalysts in chemical reactions due to their excellent optical and electrical properties.

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