Synthesis of uniform Prussian blue nanoparticles by a polyol process using a polyethylene glycol aqueous solution

Abstract

A polyol process was applied to the synthesis of Prussian blue nanoparticles that have a narrow size distribution. Potassium hexacyanidoferrate(III) and iron(III) nitrate aqueous solutions were introduced into a 50% polyethylene glycol (PEG) aqueous solution under magnetic stirring at 50 °C and reacted for 48 h. The shape of the so-obtained particles was cubic with somewhat rounded edges and the mean size was 70 nm. In the formation process, nanoparticles of Prussian green, which is a partially oxidized state of Prussian blue, were firstly generated via reduction of the precursors by PEG molecules. The Prussian green nanoparticles were then reduced subsequently to Prussian blue nanoparticles. Rate constants for both the reduction steps have been estimated using the time evolution of absorbance.