Hydrothermal synthesis, characterization and optical properties of ellipsoid shape α-Fe2O3 nanocrystals

A facile hydrothermal method for the synthesis of alpha-Fe2O3 nanocrystals is described. The crystalline structure and morphology of the as-prepared product were investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Powder X-ray diffraction pattern exhibited pure rhombohedral structure. The SEM and TEM results showed that the average diameter of the highly crystalline ellipsoid shape alpha-Fe2O3 nanocrystals was about 40-50 nm. The band gap energies were investigated by the UV-vis absorption studies. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.