Tuning the Properties of Iron Nanoparticles: Doping Effects on Reactivity and Aging

Predicting and controlling the behaviors nanoparticles in the environment must include understanding the impact of trace elements and impurities (including dopants) on their properties including reactivity and lifetime. The significant impact of many trace elements on the redox activity of iron metal and iron oxide nanoparticles in natural and engineering systems is well established. However, the fundamental mechanisms responsible for specific behaviors and the relationship of the mechanisms to the structural characteristics of the particles and dopants are not as well understood. In addition, the role of trace elements on particle aging and the overall reaction lifetime has not yet received much attention. Here we report the impact of three different processes on the reactivity of iron metal-core oxide-shell nanoparticles with carbon tetrachloride.