A single-source route for the synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles using vegetable oil solvents.

We report a general method for the synthesis of metal oxide colloidal nanocrystals in sunflower oil using single-source precursors. In this research, iron oxide nanocrystals have been synthesized and characterized though this method can be extended to the synthesis of other common metal oxides such as ZnO and also to other types of vegetable oils as solvents. Using this method, nanoparticles with average diameters of 7 nm and 3 nm were obtained respectively for iron oxide and zinc oxide. The magnetic iron oxide phase was identified using powder XRD, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and magnetic measurements as maghemite as the main component. The magnetic measurements demonstrate the superparamagnetic behavior of the iron oxide nanoparticles. This synthetic approach is an interesting way to synthesize metal oxide nanocrystals in eco-friendly solvents of natural origin.