Formation of maghemite nanoparticles in bismuth telluride materials containing iron

Abstract

Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) systems containing 2%, 4%, and 8% of iron were prepared using a low temperature wet chemical method. Iron oxide nanoparticles were formed when the samples were heated in hydrogen at 250 °C for at least six hours. The samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction, magnetization, magnetic susceptibility, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and wet chemical analysis measurements. The nanoparticles of iron oxide were identified as γ-Fe2O3 with a particle size of ˜5 nm.