Iron Carbide: An Ancient Advanced Material

Abstract

An “easy‐to‐handle” Fe3C powder constituted of nanoparticles is prepared in a simple, fast and relatively cheap way. The nanoparticles are crystalline, small (d ≈ 8 nm), and superparamagnetic. Despite the absence of any significant coating shell, these nanoparticles are stable against oxidation and can represent a perfect base for the generation of novel ferrofluids.

Study of carbon encapsulated iron oxide/iron carbide nanocomposite for hyperthermia

“…Note that b-Fe 2 O 3 is known to be paramagnetic, so may not contribute in increasing the magnetic moment value. The saturation magnetization obtained for the as-synthesized iron carbide nanocomposite is comparable to those of previously reported carbonencapsulated Fe 3 C particles (Ms¼46.7 emu g À 1 for d ¼5-10 nm [9] Ms¼ 55.4 emu g À 1 for d¼20 nm [14] Ms ¼58.8 emu g À 1 for d ¼10-100 nm [15], Ms¼54.95 emu g À 1 for d¼40 nm [16], Ms¼51.36 emu g À 1 for d¼ 5-300 nm [17]). Fig.…”

“…The synthetic routes which are usually employed for the synthesis of pure metal or metal oxide nanoparticles are unsuitable for metal carbide formation. The techniques reported in the literature used to prepare metal carbide vary from use of high temperature, hazardous and expensive chemicals to the use of biopolymers [6][7][8][9][10][11].…”

A microfibre assembly of an iron-carbon composite with giant magnetisation

“…5b. Surprisingly, the M s value of the products was not only the best reported to date for iron nitride and carbide nanostructures18 but was also 5.5-times greater than the 47 emu/g for Fe 3 C nanoparticles18 and greater than the 212 emu/g for bulk Fe26. The magnetic behaviour of ordered MNP nanostructures is known to depend strongly on the interparticle interactions2728.…”

“…Using this technique, we assembled micro-fibres of submicron iron carbide spheres and characterised their magnetic properties. The assembled microfibres were ferromagnetic, with giant magnetisations of 261 and 295 emu/g at 300 K and 5 K, respectively, which are the best values reported to date for iron nitride and carbide nanostructures18. Additionally, MF-LAL is simple, green, and catalyst-free allowing researchers to choose and design interesting solid targets and solution environments to fabricate ordered magnetic nanostructures for fundamental research and potential applications.…”

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis nanostructured catalysts: understanding structural characteristics and catalytic reaction

“…Fe 3 C NPs were synthesized through a urea-glass route, which have a size range from 5 to 10 nm [167]. Recently, Yang et al have synthesized Fe 5 C 2 NPs, for the first time, via an elegant route [168].…”