Characterization and hydrothermal synthesis of nanocrystalline α-Fe₂O₃ with different morphologies

ABSTRACT

The nanocrystalline α-Fe₂O₃ was prepared using ferric(III) chloride and sodium hydroxide by a hydrothermal process. The effects of hydrothermal reaction temperature and time, concentration of sodium hydroxide on the morphology of α-Fe₂O₃ were studied. The prepared α-Fe₂O₃ products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that hydrothermal reaction temperature and time, concentration of sodium hydroxide have all effects on morphology of α-Fe₂O₃. When hydrothermal reaction temperature is raised from 140°C to 200°C, the morphologies of α-Fe₂O₃ samples are gradually converted from a needle-like mixture to a single flaky. When hydrothermal reaction time increased from 8 h to 24 h, the morphologies of α-Fe₂O₃ samples gradually changed from grain to flaky. And when concentration of sodium hydroxide increased from 1 mol/L to 6.5 mol/L, the morphologies of α-Fe₂O₃ samples changed from quasi-cubic to sheet.

KEYWORDS:

• α-Fe₂O₃
• hydrothermal method
• morphology
• nanomaterials

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Academic Leader Programs of Huzhou University for Middle-aged and Young (No.RP23023).This work was supported by the 2017 national innovation training program for college students (Project name: Study on the preparation of rare earth manganese oxide RMnO₃ and its visible-light photocatalytic degradation for wastewater).