PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF IRON(III) OXIDE-FILMS BY A NOVEL SPRAY PYROLYSIS METHOD

α-Fe2O3 thin films were deposited on silicon substrates by nebulization of a 0.01 M solution of iron acetylacetonate in a 50% methanol/water mixture followed by pyrolysis and annealing in flowing oxygen. The resulting films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and their electrical transport behavior. The IR transmission spectrum of α-Fe2O3 recorded from such films agreed with published theoretical analysis based on the crystal structure. © 1991.