Synthesis, properties, and applications of Fe3O4 and Fe3O4-based nanocomposites: A review

Iron oxide nanoparticles and their nanocomposites have been widely studied for diverse applications ranging from water treatments to energy production, diagnostics and therapeutics. The remarkable physicochemical characteristics of iron-based nanomaterials (Fe-NMs) such as superparamagnetic behavior...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Syed Izaz Ali Shah, Wisal Ahmad, Muhammad Anwar, Roman Shah, Javed Ali Khan, Noor S. Shah, Abdulaziz Al-Anazi, Changseok Han
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Applied Catalysis O: Open
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950648425000240
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850258398425120768
author Syed Izaz Ali Shah
Wisal Ahmad
Muhammad Anwar
Roman Shah
Javed Ali Khan
Noor S. Shah
Abdulaziz Al-Anazi
Changseok Han
author_facet Syed Izaz Ali Shah
Wisal Ahmad
Muhammad Anwar
Roman Shah
Javed Ali Khan
Noor S. Shah
Abdulaziz Al-Anazi
Changseok Han
author_sort Syed Izaz Ali Shah
collection DOAJ
description Iron oxide nanoparticles and their nanocomposites have been widely studied for diverse applications ranging from water treatments to energy production, diagnostics and therapeutics. The remarkable physicochemical characteristics of iron-based nanomaterials (Fe-NMs) such as superparamagnetic behavior, higher saturation magnetization values, biocompatibility, chemical stability, structural diversity, high abundance, and tunable surface chemistry amplify their potential applications in various fields. Due to these desirable properties, Fe-NMs have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in water purification, facilitating the removal of diverse range of contaminants through magnetic separation, adsorption, and catalysis. These Fe-NMs also serve as high-performance catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction. In addition, their biocompatibility and magnetic targeting capabilities render them suitable for anticancer drug delivery, improving therapeutic outcomes. Keeping the importance of Fe-NMs in various fields, the most promising synthesis methods of magnetite (Fe3O4) and Fe3O4 based nanoparticles and nanocomposites including co-precipitation, green synthesis, hydrothermal, sol-gel, and electrochemical methods have been summarized in this review. Additionally, the application of magnetite and magnetite-based nanocomposites in the fields of wastewater treatment and green energy production have been comprehensively discussed. This review also highlights the biomedical applications of Fe-NMs such as drug delivery. Finally, the major challenges and hurdles in practical applications of Fe-NMs for green energy production and environmental sustainability have been addressed.
format Article
id doaj-art-03f0c7d8c2c64270afd850d28f463bf1
institution OA Journals
issn 2950-6484
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Applied Catalysis O: Open
spelling doaj-art-03f0c7d8c2c64270afd850d28f463bf12025-08-20T01:56:10ZengElsevierApplied Catalysis O: Open2950-64842025-06-0120320704910.1016/j.apcato.2025.207049Synthesis, properties, and applications of Fe3O4 and Fe3O4-based nanocomposites: A reviewSyed Izaz Ali Shah0Wisal Ahmad1Muhammad Anwar2Roman Shah3Javed Ali Khan4Noor S. Shah5Abdulaziz Al-Anazi6Changseok Han7Department of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, PakistanDepartment of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, PakistanDepartment of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, PakistanDepartment of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, PakistanDepartment of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan; Corresponding author.Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad 22060, PakistanDepartment of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh 11421, Saudi ArabiaProgram in Environmental and Polymer Engineering, Graduate School of INHA University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea; Department of Environmental Engineering, INHA University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea; Corresponding author at: Program in Environmental and Polymer Engineering, Graduate School of INHA University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea.Iron oxide nanoparticles and their nanocomposites have been widely studied for diverse applications ranging from water treatments to energy production, diagnostics and therapeutics. The remarkable physicochemical characteristics of iron-based nanomaterials (Fe-NMs) such as superparamagnetic behavior, higher saturation magnetization values, biocompatibility, chemical stability, structural diversity, high abundance, and tunable surface chemistry amplify their potential applications in various fields. Due to these desirable properties, Fe-NMs have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in water purification, facilitating the removal of diverse range of contaminants through magnetic separation, adsorption, and catalysis. These Fe-NMs also serve as high-performance catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction. In addition, their biocompatibility and magnetic targeting capabilities render them suitable for anticancer drug delivery, improving therapeutic outcomes. Keeping the importance of Fe-NMs in various fields, the most promising synthesis methods of magnetite (Fe3O4) and Fe3O4 based nanoparticles and nanocomposites including co-precipitation, green synthesis, hydrothermal, sol-gel, and electrochemical methods have been summarized in this review. Additionally, the application of magnetite and magnetite-based nanocomposites in the fields of wastewater treatment and green energy production have been comprehensively discussed. This review also highlights the biomedical applications of Fe-NMs such as drug delivery. Finally, the major challenges and hurdles in practical applications of Fe-NMs for green energy production and environmental sustainability have been addressed.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950648425000240Fe3O4NanocompositesPhotocatalysisHydrogen productionWater treatmentsBiomedical applications
spellingShingle Syed Izaz Ali Shah
Wisal Ahmad
Muhammad Anwar
Roman Shah
Javed Ali Khan
Noor S. Shah
Abdulaziz Al-Anazi
Changseok Han
Synthesis, properties, and applications of Fe3O4 and Fe3O4-based nanocomposites: A review
Applied Catalysis O: Open
Fe3O4
Nanocomposites
Photocatalysis
Hydrogen production
Water treatments
Biomedical applications
title Synthesis, properties, and applications of Fe3O4 and Fe3O4-based nanocomposites: A review
title_full Synthesis, properties, and applications of Fe3O4 and Fe3O4-based nanocomposites: A review
title_fullStr Synthesis, properties, and applications of Fe3O4 and Fe3O4-based nanocomposites: A review
title_full_unstemmed Synthesis, properties, and applications of Fe3O4 and Fe3O4-based nanocomposites: A review
title_short Synthesis, properties, and applications of Fe3O4 and Fe3O4-based nanocomposites: A review
title_sort synthesis properties and applications of fe3o4 and fe3o4 based nanocomposites a review
topic Fe3O4
Nanocomposites
Photocatalysis
Hydrogen production
Water treatments
Biomedical applications
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950648425000240
work_keys_str_mv AT syedizazalishah synthesispropertiesandapplicationsoffe3o4andfe3o4basednanocompositesareview
AT wisalahmad synthesispropertiesandapplicationsoffe3o4andfe3o4basednanocompositesareview
AT muhammadanwar synthesispropertiesandapplicationsoffe3o4andfe3o4basednanocompositesareview
AT romanshah synthesispropertiesandapplicationsoffe3o4andfe3o4basednanocompositesareview
AT javedalikhan synthesispropertiesandapplicationsoffe3o4andfe3o4basednanocompositesareview
AT noorsshah synthesispropertiesandapplicationsoffe3o4andfe3o4basednanocompositesareview
AT abdulazizalanazi synthesispropertiesandapplicationsoffe3o4andfe3o4basednanocompositesareview
AT changseokhan synthesispropertiesandapplicationsoffe3o4andfe3o4basednanocompositesareview