UV laser photolytic solution deposition of a-Fe/polyoxocarbosilane/carbon nanocomposite and evolution to α-Fe2O3/polyoxocarbosilane/carbon nanocomposite

KrF laser-induced photolysis of Fe(II) acetylacetonate in 2-propanol leads to (i) formation of nanosized iron and (ii) etching of the silica reactor by carbonaceous photolytic products, yielding amorphous polyoxocarbosilane. These reactions allow chemical solution deposition of Fe/polyoxocarbosilane/carbon nanocomposite possessing rare amorphous Fe phase. The material in ambient air undergoes slow oxidative passivation of the Fe constituent forming a discontinuous a-Fe2O3 shell and when heated it transforms to nanosized crystalline α-Fe2O3/polyoxocarbosilane/carbon nanocomposite. Its magnetic moment is a superposition of ferromagnetic contribution from large particles and superantiferromagnetic contribution from the thin passivating shell.