Synthesis of Uniform Ferric Oxide Particles from Deionized Colloids

A modified method was employed to prepare monodispersed colloidal particles of ferric (hydrous) oxide. The method contains three steps: (i) preparation of uniform nuclei of ferric hydrous oxide via a so-called instantaneous nucleation method; (ii) purification of the nuclei suspension via dialysis; (iii) aging of the purified nuclei suspension in a reflux reactor at certain pH. Cubic and pseudocubic alpha-Fe2O3 monodisperse particles which are much smaller than the cubic alpha-Fe2O3 particles obtained from the same reactant through a usual method were produced by aging needle like nuclei at a lower pH. A close-packed three-dimensional QDs (quantum dots) superlattice structure 40 nm in edge length with cubic geometry was formed by self-aggregation between spherical amorphous ferric hydrous oxide nuclei 3-5 nm in diameter. The growth processes of the two kind particles were also illustrated. This study showed an approach to prepare smaller particles from aqueous metal salt solutions in relatively higher concentration, and ordered QDs superlattice structure by controlled self-aggregation of QDs in hydrosol.