Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of α-FeOOH and α-Fe2O3 uniform nanocrystallines

Inorganic nanoparticles with controlled size and shape are technologically important due to the strong correlation between these parameters and magnetic, electrical, and catalytic properties. Herein we demonstrated that under appropriate conditions, rodlike α-FeOOH (goethite) and porous fusiform α-Fe2O3 (hematite) uniform nanocrystallines could be selectively synthesized in large quantities via a facile surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) assisted hydrothermal synthetic route. The morphology and structure of the final products were investigated in detail by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The probable formation mechanism of the α-FeOOH and α-Fe2O3 uniform nanoparticles was discussed on the basis of the experimental results.