Synthesis and Characterization of One-Dimensional Cr2O3 Nanostructures

Herein, we report the synthesis of one-dimensional chromium oxide nanostructures, utilizing a modified sol-gel technique combined with a constrained template environment. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), we noted that individual nanowires were cylindrical in nature and appeared to be composed of smaller, crystalline, constituent nanoparticles, sintered and aggregated together so as to form a discrete, polycrystalline structure. Spectroscopic and diffraction investigations of our nanostructures confirmed their chemical composition with little if any impurities. Moreover, we further investigated the properties of our nanomaterials using both electrical and magnetic characterization. Interestingly, the magnetic properties of our nanostructures are strongly modified as compared with the bulk, due to the emergence of a net magnetic moment induced by uncompensated surface spins. Catalysis data showed that these nanostructures were active toward the thermal decomposition of KClO4.