A facile approach for the synthesis of stable amorphous nanoscale zero-valent iron particles

Conventional methods for the preparation and stabilization of amorphous nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) particles are complicated and costly. In this study, a facile and economic approach for synthesizing stable NZVI without the requirement of vacuum condition was explored. NZVI particles were simultaneously prepared and stabilized in non-deoxygenated aqueous solutions. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive xray microanalysis (EDX), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results showed that the as-prepared Fe⁰ were uniform spherical particles with a diameter ranging from 50 nm to 100 nm and a ∼5 nm thick oxide shell. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicated that the main component of the particles was amorphous Fe⁰. As confirmed via EDX and XRD analyses, the Fe⁰ content in the stabilized NZVI particles was hardly changed after six months of storage in dry atmosphere.