Characteristics of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles prepared by thermolysis of a nonaqueous precursor

Nanosized α-Fe2O3 particles were prepared by thermolysis of iron(III) nitrate in a nonaqueous stearic acid medium. During the process, the composition of the samples were studied with the aid of infrared (IR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Thermolysis of the powders at 300°C yielded α-Fe2O3 particles with narrow size distribution in the nanometric range. The nanosized α-Fe2O3 particles were found to exhibit superparamagnetic characteristics.