Abstract

• Magnetite Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared by a chemical co-precipitation method using FeSO4.7H2O and FeCl3 as precursors. The prepared Fe3O4 nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Raman Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT IR), Thermo gravimetric Differential Thermal Analysis (TG-DTA) and UV-Visible Spectroscopy. The XRD patterns showed the formation of the single phase for Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The crystallite size of Fe3O4 nanoparticles was 16.91 nm when calculated by Scherrer equation. Fe3O4 nanoparticles showed face-centered cubic structure with a = 8.4099 Å. The SEM image of Fe3O4 nanoparticles revealed the agglomeration of the particles. In Raman spectrum the dominant peaks were observed at 211, 274, 380, 472, 584 and 653 when using the laser 532 nm excitation source. FT IR spectral data indicated the characteristic Fe-O stretching vibration at 540 cm-1 . TG-DTA thermogram showed the thermal stability of Fe3O4 nanoparticles beyond 300 ̊C. The wavelength of maximum absorption of Fe3O4 nanoparticles was observed at 322 nm.