Direct Synthesis of Iron Oxide (α-Fe2O3) Nanoparticles by the Combustion Approach

A facile and rapid combustion method was developed to synthesis to produce iron oxide (alpha-Fe2O3) nano-powder using dissolution of iron nitrate (as the oxidant) and glycine (as fuel) as the starting materials. Generally, combustion synthesis of different oxides involves a self-sustained reaction between a metal nitrates (oxidizer) and a urea, glycine, citric acid, hydrazine (fuel). Stoichiometric amounts of iron nitrate and glycine were dissolved in deionized water and poured into a quartz container can be mixed well by magnetic stirring for 1/2 h, which makes them almost as homogeneous mixtures, which was placed in a furnace at 300 degrees C. Initially, the solution boils and undergoes dehydration followed by decomposition with the evolution of large amount of gases with white fumes coming out from the exhaust opening provided on the top of the furnace in 15 minutes. After the solution reaches the point of spontaneous combustion, it begins burning and releases lots of heat, vaporizes all the solution instantly and becomes a foamy white solid powder. X-ray diffraction studies confirmed that the resultant powder with well-crystalline structure of pure alpha-Fe2O3 are produced using a single approach while simultaneously avoiding additional calcination procedures. Morphological analysis of the spherical structure of the Fe2O3 nanoparticle was achieved by SEM analyses is in the range of 35 nm and the study of the chemical bonds created was made possible by FTIR analysis. The XRD, FTIR and Raman spectra confirmed the formation of rhombohedral structural alpha-Fe2O3. Overall glycine-nitrate combustion synthesis has an outstanding potential for producing pure powder form of alpha-Fe2O3 nano particles, which leads to use in applications require high strength crystalline material.