Low temperature transformation from γ-Fe2O3 to Ti doped α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles through an epoxide assisted sol–gel route

Abstract

Maghemite and Ti doped hematite nanoparticles were synthesized through an epoxide assisted sol-gel route. Maghemite nanoparticles were prepared through the boiling of the resultant obtained by the gelation reaction of propylene oxide with FeCl2. The production of Ti doped hematite nanoparticles follows the same preparation procedure with one difference where TiCl3 was added to the FeCl2 solution before reaction. The unique chemistry of the route results in the low temperature preparation of monodisperse Maghemite nanoparticles. It also minimizes the huge difference of reactivity between Ti3+ and Fe2+ ions, which guarantees the synthesis of Ti doped hematite at low temperature, resulting in the small size of the particles.