Sonochemical Synthesis of Silica Coated Super Paramagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Abstract

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) of sizes 5 to10 nm were synthesized by the co-precipitation method. They are coated with silica nanoparticles using sonication method. The SPION was produced under the optimum pH of 10, peptized in acidic medium and redispersed in water. The silica nanoparticles were produced through the Stöbermethod. Sonochemical coating of silica nanoparticle on the SPION was successfulat a pH value lower than 5. Otherwise, at higher pH value (but lower than point zero charge (PZC)), the SPION were found to be unstable. Fast hydrolysis of triethoxyvinylsilane(TEVS) shows that silica forms its own particles without coating onto the surfaces of the SPION. Under optimized experimental condition, sonochemical method of coating silica nanoparticles onto the SPION can be considered as an alternative for effective and prompt method that rely mainly on pH of the suspension.