Chemical precipitation synthesis and morphological characterization of α-Fe2O3 coral-like nanostructures

Abstract

Nanoscale α-Fe₂O₃ structures were successfully produced employing a simple chemical precipitation of the iron oxyhydroxide (α-FeOOH) precursor and annealing without the use of complex chemical routes and costly techniques. The phase of the produced precursor and its subsequent transformation to α-Fe₂O₃ at the lowest annealing temperature, 300°C, was verified using X-ray diffraction measurement (XRD) with peaks consistent with standard diffraction patterns for α-Fe₂O₃. Subjecting the samples to higher annealing temperatures showed significantly improved cystallinity of the samples at 600°C. Further annealing at higher temperatures of 700, 800 and 900°C showed partial melting of the nanoparticles resulting to coral-like structures.