Moessbauer characterization of surface-coated magnetic nanoparticles for applications in transformers

In this study the synthesis of very small magnetite nanoparticles is reported. Analysis of the (311) X-ray diffraction line indicates nanoparticle with 2.2 nm average diameter. The as-synthesized nanosized magnetite sample was submitted to a chemical oxidation process for conversion to maghemite. However, the yielding of the chemical oxidation process, as indicated by the analysis of the Moessbauer data, was about 20%. This finding indicates a strong size-dependence of the oxidation process, reducing the yielding of the chemical process used as the nanoparticle size reduces down to extremely low values.