Preparation of Fe2O3 microtubules and the effect of a surfactant on their properties

Fe2O3 microtubules were synthesised by a sol-gel method using a cotton template. The surfactant was added in the formation process of the sol to change the morphology of the microtubules and improve their properties. The phase, morphology, particle diameter and magnetic properties of the samples were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), respectively. The external diameters of Fe2O3 microtubules ranged between 8 pm and 13 mu m, and the wall thicknesses ranged between 0.5 mu m and 2 mu m. The type of calcination method plays a significant role in developing the Fe2O3 phase and the variation in the magnetic properties in the sol-gel template complexing method. gamma-Fe2O3 was synthesized by a self-propagation method. However, alpha-Fe2O3 was synthesized after calcination at 400 degrees C for 2 h. The effect of different types of surfactant on the magnetic properties of the Fe2O3 microtubules was different. However, the coercivity decreased with the addition of a surfactant.