Contribution (Poster)
Crystalline Iron Oxide Nanowire Synthesis by Thermal Oxidation
C. Morant1, T. Campo1, F. Marquez1,2, J.M. Sanz1, E. Elizalde1
1Departamento
de Física Aplicada, C-XII, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049
Madrid, Spain
2IPCAR, Institute for Physical Chemical Applied Research, School of Science and Technology,
University of Turabo, 00778PR, USA
c.morant@uam.es
One-dimensional (1-D) nanostructures, such as nanowires and nanotubes, are the subject of extensive
research in optics, magnetism, and electronics due to their enormous potential as building blocks for
nanodevices [1,2]. Such 1D materials have properties that differ from those of nanoparticles or materials
with larger dimensions. One of the important categories of nanoscale materials are the magnetic
ferrites, due to its capability to show unique combination of electronic and magnetic properties. Among
those magnetic nanomaterials, magnetite (Fe3O4) and hematite (α-Fe2O3) are of particular interest due
to its potential applications, including high-density data storage, biomaterial applications, catalysis,
magnetic resonance imaging, sensors, and others. In particular, hematite is one of the most interesting
and important metal oxides due to their antiferromagnetic properties and their low toxicity [3, 4].
In this work we report a simple catalyst-free growth method for fabricating highly crystalline iron oxide
nanowires by thermal oxidation of iron foils. The growth of iron oxide nanowires has been carried on
pure iron substrates in a heated environment (inside a quartz tube furnace). Typical time and
temperature range required for the synthesis of a dense nanowire forest (Fig. 1) are two hours and
650ºC-800ºC. The growth properties are studied as a function of temperature, growth time and oxygen
partial pressure. The morphology and nanowire density can be controlled by varying growth
temperature and time.
The morphology, structure and chemical composition of the nanowires obtained were characterized by
Field Emission Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopies (FESEM and TEM), X-ray diffraction
(XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XRD measurements (Fig. 2) indicated that the assynthesized product is in a highly crystalline state of mixed magnetite (Fe 3O4)) and hematite (α-Fe2O3).
References
[1] G.Cao, D. Liu, Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 136 (2008) 45-64
[2] W. Lu, C.M Lieber, J. Physics D: Appl. Phys, 39 (2006) R387–R406
[3] A. Nasibulin, S. Rackausas, H. Jiang, Y. Tian, P. R. Mudimela, S.D. Shandakov, L.I. Nasibulina, J.
Sainio, E. I. Kauppinen, Nano Res, 2 (2009) 373-379
[4] P. Hiralal, H. E Unalan, K. G. U. Wijayantha, A. Kursumovic, D. Jefferson, J. L. MacManus-Driscoll,
G. A. J. Amaratunga, Nanotechnology, 19 (2008) 455608 (7pp)
Contribution (Poster)
Figure 1
FESEM image of the as-synthesized Fe nanowires
Intensity a.u.
Figure 2
Nanowires
Substrate
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80
90
2degrees
X-ray diffractogram of the Fe substrate and the iron oxide nanowires grown on the surface as labelled