Controlled growth of large-area, uniform, vertically aligned arrays of α-Fe2O3 nanobelts and nanowires

Vertically aligned iron oxide nanobelt and nanowire arrays have been synthesized on a large-area surface by direct thermal oxidation of iron substrates under the flow of O-2. The effects of reactive gas pressure, composition, and temperature have been systematically studied. It was found that nanobelts (width, tens of nanometers; thickness, a few nanometers) are produced in the low-temperature region (similar to700 degreesC) whereas cylindrical nanowires tens of nanometers thick are formed at relatively higher temperatures (similar to800 degreesC). Both nanobelts and nanowires are mostly bicrystallites with a length of tens of micrometers which grow uniquely along the [110] direction. The growth habits of the nanobelts and nanowires in the two temperature regions indicate the role of growth rate anisotropy and surface energy in dictating the ultimate nanomorphologies.