F. Buazar - Department of Marine Chemistry, Khoramshahr Marine Science and Technology University, P.O. Box ۶۶۹,
S. Rezaee - Department of Chemistry, Omidiyeh branch, Islamic Azad University, P.O. Box ۱۴۱۱۵-۱۷۵, Omidiyeh, Iran

Size, purity, yield, and morphology of arc synthesized Iron and steel nanoparticle (Nps) s are altered by the employed currents (50, 80, and 100 A/cm2), as well as the media (nitrogen, open air, ethylene glycol and distilled water saturated with poly vinylpyrrolidone. Nps produced at 80 A/cm2 in the distilled water, PVP saturated distilled water and ethylene glycol are on average five times smaller than those synthesized in nitrogen and open air. This is attributed to the capping as well as stabilizing effects of the liquid media. Changing current from 50 to 80 A/cm2 results in a decrease of Nps sizes in the liquid media, and a size increase in the gaseous media, which suffer of the lack of grain growth and particle aggregation prohibitor agents. SEM images and XRD profiles show the purest nanosteel particles formed in nitrogen, with an average size of 29 nm, at 50 A/cm2. Nps with relatively smallest size (7 nm) are obtained in distilled water, at 100 A/cm2, as a mixture of nanosteel and nano Fe3O4 particles. Yet, comparatively highest amounts of the latter are formed in the open air, at 80 A/cm2

PVP; SEM; Media, Current; Iron nanoparticle; Arc discharge