EFFECT OF PRE-ANNEALING TEMPERATURE ON THE GROWTH OF ALIGNED α-Fe2O3 NANOWIRES VIA A TWO-STEP THERMAL OXIDATION

Abstract

Pre-annealing as part of a two-step thermal oxidation process has a significant effect on the growth of hematite ([Formula: see text]-Fe2O3) nanowires on Fe foil. High-density aligned nanowires were obtained on iron foils pre-annealed at 300[Formula: see text]C under a dry air flow for 30[Formula: see text]min. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicate that the nanowires are transformed from the small [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 grains and uniquely grow in the (110) direction. The formation of a high-density of small grains by pre-annealing improved the alignment and density of the [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 nanowires.