Physical and chemical properties of iron-containing nanoparticles, for example magnetism or catalytic activity depend strongly on the oxidation state of the transition metal iron. Their large application potential for example in catalysis, energy technology, biomedicine or in electromagnetic devices originates in these properties.

In this project ‘Control of the Oxidation State of Iron in Nanoparticles containing Iron Oxides and Iron-Carbon Composites in Chemical Vapor Synthesis’ of the Research Unit 2284 ‘Model based Scalable Gasphase Synthesis of Complex Nanoparticles’ we investigate the control of the oxidation state of iron in nanoparticles during chemical vapor synthesis (CVS). Nanoscaled, phase pure particles of iron oxides, iron and iron carbide will be produced and design rules developed, i.e. optimal fields of process parameters identified which allow the scale up of the production process.

Gasphase as well as the solid state – the iron containing nanoparticles – are complex and coupled systems depending on many parameters. Systematic variation of gasphase composition and of the time-temperature-profile in the CVS-reactor and a detailed analysis of gasphase and characterization of the corresponding nanoparticles will provide for design rules  and elucidate formation mechanisms. Therefore, new methods of in situ measurements for the gasphase redox potential and the redox chemistry in the solid will be developed.