Synthesis and microstructures of alpha-Fe2O3 bicrystalline nanowires

Novel Fe2O3 nanowires have been successfully synthesized by a simple oxidation process of pure iron. The microstructure of the Fe2O3 nanowires have been systematically investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning. electron microscopy; transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The investigated materials are found to be stoichiometric rhombohedral alpha-Fe2O3 With typical diameters of 20-80 nm and lengths up to 20 gm. In addition to known single crystal Fe2O3 nanowires, a great amount of novel bicrystalline nanowires were found with ellipsoidal heads. Investigations indicate that most of the bicrystalline nanowires are twins and their orientation relationship is obtained to be (-1,1,10)M//(-1,1,10)(T), [110](M)//[-1-10](T). High resolution TEM with numerical reconstruction of the electron exit wave was used to investigated the atomic structure of the micro-twins. Their growth mechanism is briefly discussed on the basis of solid phase growth process.Materials Science, MultidisciplinaryMaterials Science, Characterization & TestingCPCI-S(ISTP)