DC thermal arc-plasma preparation of nanometric and stoichiometric spherical magnetite (Fe3O4) powders

Abstract The DC thermal arc-plasma route is used successfully for the first time for the preparation of magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) powders. The powder is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Mossbauer spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The size of particles increases with increasing arc-plasma current. High DC arc-current generates the spherical, stoichiometric Fe 3 O 4 particles with comparable magnetic properties ( M s ∼88 emu/g) . The arc-current and hence the oxidation rate is found to be responsible in controlling the size and stoichiometry of the Fe 3 O 4 particles.