Laser Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanowires

Abstract

Iron oxide nanowires are rapidly synthesized in large quantities at room temperature by pulsed-laser (248 nm) ablation of iron powder under methanol. The morphology depends on the rate of collection. At high collection rates, a lamellate ‘nanobelt’ morphology is observed, whereas at low collection rates nanowires dominate. The as-synthesized products have the stoichiometry of the goethite [FeO(OH)] phase which after annealing at temperatures above 400 ºC crystallizes into hematite (α-Fe₂O₃).