One-Pot Photosynthesis
of Cubic Fe@Fe3O4 Core–Shell Nanoparticle
Well-Dispersed in N‑Doping
Carbonaceous Polymer Using a Molecular Dinitrosyl Iron Precursor
posted on 2022-12-14, 14:47authored byIbrahim Habib, Tsai-Te Lu, Amr Sabbah, Kuei-Hsien Chen, Fu-Te Tsai, Wen-Feng Liaw
Nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI)
features potential application
to biomedicine, (electro-/photo)catalysis, and environmental remediation.
However, multiple-synthetic steps and limited ZVI content prompt the
development of a novel strategy for efficient preparation of NZVI
composites. Herein, a dinitrosyl iron complex [(N3MDA)Fe(NO)2] (1-N3MDA) was explored as a molecular precursor for one-pot photosynthesis
of a cubic Fe@Fe3O4 core–shell nanoparticle
(ZVI% = 60%) well-dispersed in an N-doping carbonaceous polymer (NZVI@NC).
Upon photolysis of 1-N3MDA, photosensitizer Eosin Y, and sacrificial reductant TEA,
the α-diimine N3MDA and noninnocent NO ligands (1)
enable the slow reduction of 1-N3MDA into an unstable [(N3MDA)Fe(NO)2]− species, (2) serve as a capping reagent for
controlled nucleation of zerovalent Fe atom into Fe nanoparticle,
and (3) promote the polymerization of degraded Eosin Y with N3MDA yielding an N-doping carbonaceous matrix in NZVI@NC. This
discovery of a one-pot photosynthetic process for NZVI@NC inspires
continued efforts on its application to photolytic water splitting
and ferroptotic chemotherapy in the near future.