Microwave-hydrothermal synthesis, characterization and properties of rice-like α-Fe2O3 nanorods

Rice-like alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods have been successfully synthesized by a simple microwave hydrothermal route, employing FeCl3 center dot 6H(2)O and ethylenediamine (en) as the starting materials. The phase of the as-prepared product was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and further determined by Rietveld refinement of XRD data. The morphology of the product was observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and (high-resolution) transmission electron microscopy (HR/TEM). The formation of Fe2O3 was further confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) and the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum of the product. Experiments showed that the product possessed a high coercive force of 467.1 Oe at room temperature, and exhibited a strong electrochemical response to Hg2+ ions in water resources. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.