Preparation and characterization of α-Fe2O3 nanorod-thin film by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition

Alpha iron oxide (α-Fe2O3) films were grown on catalyst-free silicon substrate using a vertical type metal–organic chemical vapor deposition process. X-ray powder diffraction and field-emission transmission electron microscopy measurements showed that these α-Fe2O3 films consisted of bundles of one dimensional (1D) nanorods and the nanorods in these α-Fe2O3 films were single crystalline with a well-ordered rhombohedral structure. The nanorods showed a preferred growth orientation in the [104] direction. Magnetic force microscopy image suggests that spin domains were formed in the α-Fe2O3 nanorods. Photo-catalytic property of these nanorod films was confirmed through the photo-degradation of Rhodamine B by UV irradiation. These α-Fe2O3 film/nanorod materials could be used as building blocks for nanodevice applications.