• Advances in nano research
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.187-198
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• 2014

Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) of different sizes were synthesized by solvothermal process maintaining their stoichiometric composition and unique structural phase. Utilizing hydrated ferric (III) chloride as unique iron precursor, it was possible to synthesize sub-micrometric magnetite clusters of sizes in between 208 and 381 nm in controlled manner by controlling the concentration of sodium acetate in the reaction mixture. The sub-micrometer size nanoclusters consist of nanometric primary particles of 19 - 26.3 nm average size. The concentration of sodium acetate in reaction solution seen to control the final size of primary MNPs, and hence the size of sub-micrometric magnetite nanoclusters. All the samples revealed their superparamagnetic behavior with saturation magnetization ($M_s$) values in between 74.3 and 77.4 emu/g. $M_s$. The coercivity of the nanoclusters depends both on the size of the primary particles and impurity present in them. The mechanisms of formation and size control of the MNPs have been discussed.