Monodisperse porous pod-like hematite: Hydrothermal formation, optical absorbance, and magnetic properties

Uniform monodisperse porous silk-worm pod-like hematite (alpha-Fe(2)O(3)) superstructures were efficiently obtained via a facile hydrothermal route. This was realized via the co-precipitation of FeCl(3) and NaOH solutions at room temperature in the presence of H(3)BO(3), followed by a mild hydrothermal treatment (150 degrees C, 12.0 h). The UV-vis band is mainly located in the far-UV region, with one intense broadband from 260 to 290 nm. The porous pod-like superstructures exhibit special magnetic properties with a remnant magnetization of 0.22 emu g(-1) and a high coercivity of 3315.5 Oe at room temperature, indicating the as-obtained porous pod-like superstructures of a promising candidate for gas sensors, lithium ion battery, photocatalysis, and water treatment. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.