Factors Affecting the Reductive Properties of the Core-Shell SiO2-Coated Iron Nanoparticles

In this study, novel core-shell SiO2-coated iron nanoparticles (SiO2-nZVI) were synthesized using a one-step Stoeber method. The Malachite green degradation abilities of the nanoparticles were investigated. The effects of ethanol/distilled water volume ratio, presence and absence of PEG, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) dosage, and hydrolysis time used in the nanoparticles preparation process were investigated. The results indicated that the SiO2-coated iron nanoparticles had the highest reduction activity when the particles synthesized with ethanol/H2O ratio of 2:1, PEG of 0.15 ml, TEOS of 0.5 ml and the reaction time was 4 h. The SiO2-nZVI nanoparticles were characterized using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS) and powder X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the average particles diameter of the SiO2-nZVI was 20 - 30 nm. The thickness of the outside SiO2 film is consistent and approximately 10 nm. The results indicated that the nanoparticles coated completely with a transparent SiO2-film. Such nanoparticles could have wide applications in dye decolorization.