α-Fe2O3–In2O3 mixed oxide nanoparticles synthesized under hydrothermal supercritical conditions Original Research Article

α-Fe2O3–In2O3 mixed oxide nanoparticles system has been synthesized by hydrothermal supercritical and postannealing route, starting with (1−x)Fe(NO3)3·9H2O·xIn(NO3)3·5H2O aqueous solution (x=0–1). X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy have been used to study the phase structure and substitutions in the nanosized samples. The concentration regions for the existence of the solid solutions in the α-Fe2O3–In2O3 nanoparticle system together with the solubility limits of In3+ ions in the hematite lattice and of Fe3+ ions in the cubic In2O3 structure have been evidenced. In general, the substitution level is considerably lower than the nominal concentration x. A justification of the processes leading to the formation of iron and indium phases in the investigated supercritical hydrothermal system has been given.