Recent progress in the synthesis of magnetic titania/iron-based, composite nanoparticles manufactured by laser pyrolysis

Abstract We report the continuous, single step synthesis of titania/iron-based magnetic nanocomposites in a single step using gas-phase laser pyrolysis technique by separately and simultaneously introducing the precursors (together with C2H4 sensitizer) in the reaction zone: Fe(CO)5 on the central flow and, using air as carrier, TiCl4 on the annular coflow. The laser power and, for the last experiment, the injection geometry were modified in order to change the Fe/Ti ratio in the resulted nanopowders. Due to the specific geometry, the reaction zone (visible as a flame) have a reductive inner central zone surrounded by and oxidative environment, allowing the formation of the metallic–carbidic iron and/or iron-doped titania and iron oxide nanophases. The raw Fe-containing nanopowders have a ferromagnetic behavior, those synthesized at higher laser power and gas velocities show significant saturation magnetization Ms values (10–12 emu/g), whereas those obtained (with higher yield and carbon content) at lower laser power and gas velocities (using wider central nozzle cross-section) have a very weak magnetization (Ms ∼ 0.05 emu/g) in spite of the higher ethylene carried Fe(CO)5 flow. The powders were annealed in air at 400 °C show lower carbon content and, for those highly Fe-doped, the hematite phase formation. Preliminary tests using UV light confirm the photocatalytic action of the annealed nanopowders in salicylic acid degradation process in solution.