Microwave-assisted one-step hydrothermal synthesis of pure iron oxide nanoparticles: magnetite, maghemite and hematite

A simple, rapid, one-step synthesis way of pure iron oxide nanoparticles: magnetite (Fe3O4), maghemite (c-Fe2O3) and hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) was investigated. Nanoparticles were prepared by microwave synthesis, from ethanol/water solutions of chloride salts of iron (FeCl2 and FeCl3) in the presence of sodium hydroxide NaOH. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize these nanoparticles.