Synthesis and characterization of magnetite dodecahedron nanostructure by hydrothermal method

Magnetite dodecahedral nanocrystals were fabricated using ethlenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)-mediated hydrothermal route. Scanning electron microscopy images displayed that the products were almost dodecahedrons. The length of two different ribs were about 300 and 200 nm, respectively. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the products were the cubic inverse spinel structure. Fourier transform infrared spectrum directly provided evidence of the EDTA bound to a specific surface of the precipitated magnetic nanocrystal. Reaction medium, temperature and time played important roles in the formation of dodecahedral morphology. Based on the experimental results, the possible formation mechanism of such novel nanostructures was proposed. Also, the magnetic properties of the samples were characterized on a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM).