Synthesis of Fine Iron Particles by a Wet Process

Abstract

The aim of this study was to synthesize fine iron particles by reducing an iron complex in an organic solvent. When tris (acetylacetonato) iron (III) in diphenyl ether was refluxed without any reducing agent, or was reduced by hydrazine, no metal iron was produced. However, metal iron particles could be produced when the iron complex was refluxed in N₂ atmosphere for 12 hours with sodium borohydride, of which amount was 60 times greater than the complex in molar ratio. The purity of the product was about 91.2%, and the particle size was 10 to 20 nm. Received October 24, 1989