Iron carbide nanoparticles growth in room temperature ionic liquids [Cn-MIM][BF4] (n = 12, 16)

The thermal decomposition of Fex(CO)y precursors for the synthesis of nanoparticles of iron carbides and their superstructures with sizes ranging from 2.8 to 15.1 nm is developed using imidazolium-based ionic liquids as solvents, stabilizers, and carbon source. A study of the influence of some synthesis parameters such as the heating temperature, nature, and concentration of the iron carbonyl precursor and chain length of the N-alkyl substituent on the imidazolium ring on the size and organization of the iron carbide nanoparticles is presented. These iron carbides nano-objects were characterized by infra-red spectroscopy, transmission electronic microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, Mossbauer spectroscopy, and magnetic analyses.