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Influence of various metal cations on the formation and properties of α–Fe2O3 (hematite) nanorods

Nanosized α-Fe2O3 (hematite) is a widely investigated material due to high stability, low toxicity, abundance and low cost [1]. As a semiconductor (Eg = 2.2 eV) [1] with a strong absorption of UV and visible light with λ < 600 nm, α-Fe2O3 has found various ways to be used in traditional and advanced technologies. It can be used as a UV protective pigment, photoelectrode for hydrogen production by water splitting using solar energy or as a photocatalyst for decomposition of harmful and toxic compounds. Some specific properties of α-Fe2O3, like magnetic, electrical and optical properties, as well as photoelectrochemical or photocatalytic activity, can be significantly improved by doping with various metal cations and/or morphology modification [2-5]. One step hydrothermal synthesis of uniform hematite nanorods using Fe(III) chloride aqueous solution and 1, 2- propanediamine (1, 2- diaminopropane) has been reported by Li et al. [6]. In the present work, the influence of the replacement of a fraction of Fe3+ ions in this synthesis with other metal cations (Al3+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Co2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Sn4+) on the properties of prepared hematite samples was investigated. Structural properties of prepared samples were studied using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and Mössbauer spectroscopy, particle size and shape were determined using field emission scanning microscopy (FE-SEM), while optical properties were investigated using diffuse reflectance UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy.

hematite ; dopant ; uniform nanoparticles ; mössbauer spectroscopy ; morin transition

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