Hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) with various morphologies: ionic liquid-assisted synthesis, formation mechanism, and properties.

TLDR: The alpha-Fe(2)O(3) with various morphologies has been successfully synthesized via an ionic liquid-assisted hydrothermal synthetic method and is expected to be a useful technique for controlling the diverse shapes of crystalline inorganic materials for a variety of applications, including sensors, gas and heavy metal ion adsorbents, catalytic fields, hydrogen and Li ion storage, and controlled drug delivery.

Abstract: The α-Fe2O3 with various morphologies has been successfully synthesized via an ionic liquid-assisted hydrothermal synthetic method. The samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The results indicate that the as-prepared samples are α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles, mesoporous hollow microspheres, microcubes, and porous nanorods. The effects of the ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([bmim][Cl]) on the formation of the α-Fe2O3 with various morphologies have been investigated systematically. The proposed formation mechanisms have also been investigated on the basis of a series of FE-SEM studies of the products obtained at different durations. Because of the unique porous structure, the potential application in water treatment of the α-Fe2O3 porous nanorods was investigated. The UV−vis measurements suggest that the a...