Preparation of coral-like magnetite through a glucose-assisted solvothermal synthesis

Abstract

A hierarchical magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanostructure with coral-like morphology was synthesized by a simple glucose-assisted solvothermal method. The structure consists of tens of twigs with lengths about 1–2 μm. The root of the nanostructure is composed of random-aggregated particles with sizes of ca. 10 nm, and the twigs were formed from the oriented-aggregation of nanoparticles. During the formation of the hierarchical structure, the glucose played an important role: its derivates coordinated with iron ions to control the nucleation and growth of Fe₃O₄; and it also acted as a morphology-directing agent.