Aqueous chemical route to ferromagnetic 3-d Arrays of iron nanorods

The fabrication of very large arrays of oriented ferromagnetic iron nanorods by aqueous chemical growth without template, surfactant, or applied electric or magnetic field is reported. The method involves the direct growth of beta iron oxyhydroxide nanorods from an aqueous ferric chloride solution onto single or polycrystalline substrates, followed by reduction in hydrogen atmosphere at mild temperatures.