Syntheses of Hematite (α-Fe2O3) Nanoparticles Using Microwave-Assisted Calcination Method

Hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) nanoparticles were synthesized from the solution of FeCl3 center dot 6H(2)O and NaOH in water using microwave-assisted calcination method. The syntheses were initially carried out by microwave heating and completed by a calcination process using a simple heating method. The effects of microwave heating time, calcination temperature, and calcination time were investigated. The XRD patterns demonstrated that the obtained nanoparticles are pure hematite. Using the Scherrer method, the average crystallite sizes of hematite nanoparticles were in the range of 35.6 to 54.4 nm. The obtained hematite nanoparticles were spherical with the average particle sizes ranging from 91 to 116 nm as confirmed by the SEM images.