Thermally induced reduction of amorphous
Fe2O3
nanopowder (2–3 nm) with nanocrystalline Mg
(∼20 nm) under a hydrogen atmosphere is presented as a novel route to obtain
α-Fe
and Fe3O4
magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in a MgO matrix. The phase composition, structural and
magnetic properties, size and morphology of the nanoparticles were monitored by x-ray diffraction,
57Fe
Mössbauer spectroscopy at temperatures of 24–300 K, transmission electron microscopy and
magnetic measurements. Spherical magnetite nanoparticles prepared at a reaction temperature of
300 °C
revealed a well-defined structure, with a ratio of tetrahedral to octahedral Fe sites of
1/2 being
common for the bulk material. A narrow particle size distribution (20–30 nm) and high saturation magnetization
(95 ± 5 A m2 kg−1)
predispose the magnetite nanoparticles to various applications,
including magnetic separation processes. The Verwey transition of
Fe3O4
nanocrystals was found to be decreased to about 80 K. The deeper reduction of amorphous ferric oxide
at 600 °C
allows α-Fe (40–50 nm) nanoparticles to be synthesized with a coercive force of about
30 mT. They have a saturation magnetization 2.2 times higher than that
of synthesized magnetite nanoparticles, which corresponds well with the
ratio usually found for the pure bulk phases. The magnetic properties of
α-Fe nanocrystals combined with the high chemical and thermal stability of the MgO
matrix makes the prepared nanocomposite useful for various magnetic applications.