Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
By vapor-phase pyrolysis of Fe(CO) 5 and NH3 induced by CW CO2 laser, γ'-Fe4N and ε- Fe3N nanoparticles(≤35nm) were prepared in Ar and N2 atmospheres. In Ar, γ'-Fe4N accompanied by a little α-Fe was formed at low temperatures below 650°C, while higher temperatures favored the formation of γ-Fe. In N2 atmospheres, a mixture of Fe4N and Fe3N nanoparticles were obtained at high temperatures. In addition, the influences of synthesis parameters on the structure, morphology and magnetic properties of the nanoparticles were discussed.