Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline Fe3O4 powders

Abstract Fe 3 O 4 particles of nanometer size were hydrothermally synthesized from iron(II) 2-methoxyethoxides (Fe(OMOE) 2 ), using 2-methoxyethanol (MOE)–water mixed solvent as the medium. The as-prepared powders were characterized in detail by conventional techniques such as X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, and transmission electron microscopy, and their magnetic properties were evaluated on a vibrating magnetometer. These Fe 3 O 4 nanocrystallites would transform into α-Fe 2 O 3 at a lower temperature, compared to those prepared by other methods.