Institute of Fundamental Technological Research

Magnetic nanoparticles based on iron or iron oxides represent an excellent nanomaterial in respect of their fundamental research as well as numerous applications. This work presents a Mössbauer study of the influence of thermal treatment on the structure and phase composition of iron nanoparticles fabricated via a simple reduction reaction. Identification of iron-containing phases has been carried out for the series of samples annealed at different temperatures ranging between 200 C and 800 C. Both crystalline and amorphous iron as well as variety of iron oxides have been detected. It has been proved that the nanoparticles annealed at 500 C show superparamagnetic behavior as a result of ultrafine sizes of crystallites of iron oxides that arise in the oxidation processes.

Functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes as well as nanocomposite based on that material covered by nanoparticles composed of iron oxides were the subject of investigations. In order to identify all iron-bearing phases including those reported on the base of previous X-ray diffraction measurements, the transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy was utilized. The experiments were carried out both at room temperature and also at low temperatures. It was stated that in the investigated nanotubes some impurities were present, originating from the catalyst remains, in form of Fe–C and -Fe nanoparticles. The Mössbauer spectra collected for the nanocomposite showed a complex shape characteristic of temperature relaxations. The following subspectra related to iron-based phases were identified: sextet attributed to hematite, with hyperfine magnetic field reduced due to the temperature relaxations, sextet corresponding to iron carbide as well as two doublets linked to superparamagnetic hematite and ferrihydrites.

Mossbauer spectroscopy, multiwall carbon nanotubes, phase transition

Raman spectroscopy as well as Mössbauer spectroscopy were applied in order to study the phase composition of iron nanowires and its changes, caused by annealing in a neutral atmosphere at several temperatures ranging from 200°C to 800°C. As-prepared nanowires were manufactured via a simple chemical reduction in an external magnetic field. Both experimental techniques proved formation of the surface layer covered by crystalline iron oxides, with phase composition dependent on the annealing temperature (Ta). At higher Ta, hematite was the dominant phase in the nanowires.

amorphous iron and iron oxides, iron nanowires, Mössbauer spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermal annealing