High-yield synthesis and magnetic property of hematite nanorhombohedras through a facile solution route

Through a relatively low temperature solution route, hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) nanorhombohedras with average particle size of 35 run were synthesized in high yield. The final products were investigated by a variety of characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Raman spectrum. As a steric stabilizer and capping agent, the roles of PVP played in the whole process were discussed. And the magnetic property of the nanorhombohedras at low temperature was examined, exhibiting weakly ferromagnetic characteristic, which deviates from the behavior of the corresponding bulk material and might be ascribed to the presence of small crystals in a few regions of the sample. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.