Synthesis on an ultra large scale of nearly monodispersed γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles with La(III) doping through a sol–gel route assisted by propylene oxide

Nearly monodispersed La³⁺ doped γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were synthesized on an ultra-large scale of about 60 g in a single reaction by a low temperature sol–gel route. The nanoparticles were obtained by the reaction of FeCl₂ and La(NO₃)₃ in ethanol solution with propylene oxide to form the sol, followed by the boiling of the sol solution. The La³⁺ doping promotes the phase transformation temperature of γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles from 350 to 650 °C by the La³⁺ doping induced enhancement of phase transformation activation energy. This large scale synthesis strategy offers important advantages over other conventional routes for the preparation of undoped and doped γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. These guarantee the promising application of this route in the industrial production.