Rietveld Analysis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Abstract

A room temperature solution process for synthesis of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles demonstrated. It is shown that the particle size can be controlled with low concentration of oleic acid. The structure of as grown particles using X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement are discussed. Fe₃O₄ samples showed reduction in particle size for decreased concentration of oleic acid employed during synthesis. The as grown nanoparticles were found to possess a preferential (311) orientation of the cubic phase. The X-ray diffraction and the Rietveld refinement confirm the inverse spinel structure of cubic phase of magnetite.