Preparation of ferromagnetic γ-Fe2O3 nanocrystallites by oxidative co-decomposition of PEG 6000 and ferrocene

Highly crystalline and ferromagnetic gamma-Fe2O3 nanocrystallites were prepared by controlled oxidative co-decomposition of PEG 6000 and ferrocene at a temperature of 450 degrees C under air atmosphere. The morphology, crystalline structure and preliminary magnetic properties of the as-synthesized nanocrystallites have been characterized by using transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The highly crystalline gamma-Fe2O3 nanocrystallites are in quasi-cubic shape with an average size of 30 nm and exhibit room-temperature ferromagnetism. The capping effect of PEG 6000 has also been investigated by thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) regarding controlling the size of the nanocrystallites and preventing the volatilization of ferrocene and thus raising the yield of the products. This simple method has a high yield of over 80% as well as low cost. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.