Metal-ion adsorption on carboxyl-bearing self-assembled monolayers covalently bound to magnetic nanoparticles.

Hematite nanoparticles have been functionalized with a self-assembled monolayer of undecanoic acid (UA) by covalent attachment via siloxane groups. The number density of carboxylic/carboxylate groups on the surface was determined by titration, yielding values on the order of 10(14) UA molecules/cm(2) and thus consistent with a closed-packed monolayer. The ability of these functionalized particles to adsorb Cd(2+) in the ppm range was demonstrated using in situ anodic stripping voltammetry.