Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Amorphous silicate nanoparticles with controlled Fe-Mg pyroxene compositions

Amorphous silicate nanoparticles with controlled Fe-Mg pyroxene compositions Thumbnail


Abstract

The production of amorphous pyroxene nanoparticles (~ 20 nm) with controlled Fe-Mg content is described. Homogenous particle compositions closely matching required target stoichiometries are obtained by drying a precursor gel under high vacuum conditions. The silicate nature of the particles is characterised using TEM, synchrotron radiation and FTIR. No oxide phase separation occurs, even at high Fe concentration. Structural domains exist within the nanoparticles that are typically ten times smaller than the physical particle size consistent with either a core-shell, or, random network with multiple embedded domains, particle structure. Thermal annealing below the crystallisation temperature allows the ordered domain size to be further reduced by a factor of ~ 2.

Acceptance Date Jun 10, 2016
Publication Date Jun 22, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids
Print ISSN 0022-3093
Publisher Elsevier
Pages 255 - 261
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2016.06.017
Keywords iron and magnesium silicate; nanoparticles; sol-gel; amorphous material
Publisher URL http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022309316302320

Files




Downloadable Citations