Microstructural defects in γ-Fe2O3 particles

Abstract

The microstructure of three different types of γ-Fe2O3 particles were examined using transmission electron microscopy. These included pure γ-Fe2O3, γ-Fe2O3 that had been surface modified using Co, and γ-Fe2O3 that had been doped with Co. The major internal microstructural defects found in the particles in all of the samples were pores and antiphase boundaries. Some particles also had a very high density of dislocations and low-angle boundaries. In general, the particles could be described as single crystals with symmetric cross section. The structure is based on a tetragonal unit cell, and each particle is divided into antiphase domains in which the c axis is oriented at 90°with respect to adjoining domains. The particles often exhibited very irregular shapes. No effect of Co modification was seen on the internal or surface structure of the particles. The Co-doped particles were found to be smaller in size and contained a lower density of internal defects. The effect of the microstructural defects and morphological irregularities in these particles on magnetic behavior is discussed.