Crystallization behavior of iron-based amorphous nanoparticles prepared sonochemically

In general, a rapid quenching is required to obtain an amorphous metal. It is known that an intensive ultrasonication generates a very high temperature within cavitation bubbles in a very short moment, which enables a rapid quenching process in a liquid phase synthesis. In this study, the sonochemically-derived “amorphous iron” from Fe(CO)₅ was carefully examined by XRD, TEM, TG-DTA. The product was found to be an amorphous containing a certain amount (∼15%) of volatile component that can be removed by heating in a nitrogen flow. After annealed in the inert atmosphere at 600 °C, cooled down to room temperature, and then exposed in air (oxygen), the sample showed a strong exotherm accompanied by a weight gain. This is due to oxidation of fine metallic iron. Experimental operations of such a reactive material were examined.