Study of the effect of ultrasonic waves on the morphology and dispersion of magnetite

The effect of ultrasound exposure on the structure and dispersion of magnetite nanoparticles obtained by co- deposition of Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions in an alkaline medium created by ammonium hydroxide has been studied. Intensive mixing, accompanied by ultrasonic cavitation and the formation of a large number of nuclei, allows the reaction to be carried out in a short time, which contributes to the monodispersity of the resulting product. The dispersion and morphology of magnetite powders have been studied by scanning electron microscopy and granulometric analysis using a laser nanoparticle size analyzer. It has been shown that exposure to ultrasound makes it possible to obtain magnetite powders with improved dispersion with an average particle size of ∼25 nm. A characteristic feature of synthesized magnetite nanoparticles obtained by ultrasonic exposure is the rounded shape of the particles (absence of sharp corners). These facts open up broad prospects for the use of magnetite nanoparticles obtained using ultrasound in biomedical research. A promising plan for further research aimed at stabilizing magnetite nanoparticles synthesized under the action of ultrasound in a dispersion medium containing polyvinyl alcohol and crosslinking agents is outlined.