Fabrication of iron oxide nanoparticles: magnetic and electrochemical sensing property

In this paper, we report a simple synthesis of Fe2O3 nanoparticles using hydrothermal method. The formation of the sample was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy. The average crystallite size of the synthesized Fe2O3 nanoparticles was estimated to be 61 nm and the particles were of good crystalline nature. Field emission-scanning electron microscopy study of the sample revealed that the Fe2O3 powder has rod-like morphology which is composed of nanoparticles. The vibrating sample magnetometer measurement shows that the nanoparticles possess ferromagnetic property. The synthesized Fe2O3 nanoparticles were used to modify glassy carbon electrode (Fe2O3/GCE) and the modified electrode was used to detect pyrocatechol (PC) in a pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solutions by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. At the Fe2O3/GCE, PC is oxidized at less positive potential with larger current response than the bare GCE. The proposed sensor exhibits great potential in the field of electrochemical sensing of PC.