Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Synthesis and characterization of maghemite iron oxide (γ-Fe2O3) nanofibers: novel semiconductor with magnetic feature

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Among the reported nanostructural shapes, nanofibers have special interest due to the long axial ratio which has a distinct impact on many chemical and physical properties. In this study, synthesis of the desirable maghemite iron oxide (γ-Fe2O3) nanofibers is introduced. Calcination of electrospun mats composed of ferrous acetate and poly(vinyl alcohol) in argon atmosphere resulted in producing maghemite nanofibers. Detailed characterization affirmed that the obtained γ-Fe2O3 nanofibers are free of other iron oxides. Due to the axial ratio impact, the synthesized nanofibers which have an average diameter of ~70 nm do have magnetic properties resemble γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles having an average diameter of ~5 nm. Accordingly, the produced nanofibers are considerable candidate for biomagnetic separation of the biomaterials. The prepared γ-Fe2O3 nanofibers can be easily handled as they were obtained in the form of strong mats. Electrical properties study indicated that the introduced nanofibers behave as a semiconducting material. Moreover, the synthesized γ-Fe2O3 nanofibers have band gap energy of ~4.2 eV. Based on the simplicity, effectiveness, high-yield, and low-cost features of the utilized preparation process and the studied physiochemical properties of the obtained product, the synthesized γ-Fe2O3 nanofibers might have considerable application fields.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Babes L, Denizot B, Tanguy G, Le Jeune JJ, Jallet P (1999) J Colloid Interface Sci 212:474

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hu J, Ouyang MY, Lieber CM (1999) Nature 399:48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Xu DS, Guo GL, Gui LL, Tang YQ, Shi EJ, Jin EX (1999) Appl Phys Lett 75:481

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Ovidiu C, Ioan DVT, Alexandru S (2012) J Mater Sci 47:2322. doi:10.1007/s10853-011-6047-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Liang L, Liu J, Exarhos GJ, Lin Y (2002) Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 41:3665

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Martin CR (1994) Science 266:1961

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Wei Z, Zhang Z, Wan M (2002) Langmuir 18:917

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ramya C, Lifeng Z, Jane YH, Nyle EH, Yan Z et al (2009) J Mater Sci 44:1198. doi:10.1007/s10853-008-3201-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Zhang X, Goux WJ, Manohar SK (2004) J Am Chem Soc 126:4502

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Zhang XY, Manohar SK (2004) J Am Chem Soc 126:2714

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Li W, Wang HL (2004) J Am Chem Soc 126:2278

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Tejada J, Zhang XX, Balcells LI (1993) J Appl Phys 73:6709

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Raphaeël J, Daniel G (2002) J Alloy Compd 333:302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Vollath D, Szabo DV, Taylor RD, Willis JO (1997) J Mater Res 12:2175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Lee SJ, Jeong JR, Shin SC, Kim JC, Chang YH, Chang YM, Kim JD (2004) J Magn Magn Mater 282:3432

    Google Scholar 

  16. Oscar BM, Lena M, Alexandra N, Sabino VV (2008) Chem Mater 20:591

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Taeghwan H, Su SL, Jongnam P, Yunhee C, Hyon BN (2001) J Am Chem Soc 123:12798

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Zemin W, Yong L, Xiaoyan Z (2006) Powder Technol 161:65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Rong CB, Zhang Y, Poudyal N, Szlufarska I, Hebert RJ, Kramer MJ, Liu JP (2011) J Mater Sci 46:6065. doi:10.1007/s10853-011-5568-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Park J, Kang E, Son SU, Park HM, Lee MK, Kim J, Kim KW, Noh HJ, Park JH, Bae CJ, Park J, Hyeon T (2005) Adv Mater 17:429 (references therein)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Fraune M, Rüdiger U, Güntherodt G (2000) Appl Phys Lett 77:3815

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Dennis CL, Borges RB, Buda LD, Ebels U, Gregg JF, Hehn M, Jouguelet E, Ounadjela K, Petej I, Prejbeanu IL, Thorntorn MJ (2002) J Phys Condens Matter 14:R1175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Henry Y, Ounadjela K, Piraux L, Dubois S, George JM, Duvail JL (2001) Eur Phys J B 20:35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Thurn-Albrecht T et al (2000) Science 290:2126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Zhou J, Cui YF, Liu HS, Wang W, Peng K, Xiao YD (2011) J Mater Sci 46:7567. doi:10.1007/s10853-011-5731-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Whitney TW, Searson PC, Jiang JS, Chien CL (1993) Science 261:1316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Allwood DA, Xiong G, Cooke MD, Faulkner CC, Atkinson D, Vernier N, Cowburn RP (2002) Science 296:2003

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Bentley AK, Ellis AB, Lisensky GC, Crone WC (2005) Nanotechnology 16:2193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Graeser M, Bognitzki M, Massa W, Pietzonka C, Greiner A, Wendorff JH (2007) Adv Mater 19:4244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Wu H, Zhang R, Liu X, Lin D, Pan W (2007) Chem Mater 19:3506

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Barakat NAM, Woo KD, Kanjwal MA, Kyung EC, Khil MS, Kim HY (2008) Langmuir 24:11982

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Barakat NAM, Hamza AM, Al-Deyabd SS, Qurashie A, Kim HY (2012) Mater Sci Eng B 177:34

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Barakat NAM, Kim B, Kim HY (2009) J Phys Chem C 113:531

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Barakat NAM, Kim B, Park SJ, Jo Y, Jung MH, Kim HY (2009) J Mater Chem 19:7371

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Formhals A (1940) US Patent, 2,187, 306

  36. Barakat NAM, Khil MS, Sheikh FA, Kim HY (2008) J Phys Chem C 112:12225

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Cornell RM, Schertman U (2003) The iron oxides: structure, properties, reactions, occurrences, uses, 2nd edn. Wiley-VCH Gmbh & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, 141 pp

  38. Poling GW (1969) J Electrochem Soc 116:958

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Lili W, Gao L (2010) J Colloid Interface Sci 349:519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Jewur SS, Kuriacose JC (1977) Thermochem Acta 19:195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Coey MD (1971) Phys Rev Lett 27:1140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Fiorani D, Testa AM, Lucari F, D’Orazio F, Romero H (2002) Physica B 320:122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Dutta P, Manivannan A, Seehra MS, Shah N, Huffman GP (2004) Phys Rev B 70:174428-1-174428-7

    Google Scholar 

  44. Fernando GS, Jéssica AM, José CP, Geiza EO, Cezar MR, Luis MTR (2010) J Mater Sci 45:5012. doi:10.1007/s10853-010-4321-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Franzreb M, Siemann-Herzberg M, Hobley TJ, Thomas ORT (2006) Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 70:505

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Barakat NAM, Abadir MF, Nam KT, Hamza A, Al-Deyab S, Beak W, Kim HY (2011) J Mater Chem 21:10957

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Hu XJ, Jiang QZ, Liao XZ, Shangguan WF, Ma ZF (2011) J New Mater Electrochem Syst 4:247

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Mr. T. S. Bae and Mr. J. C. Lim, KBSI, Jeonju branch, and Mr. Jong-Gyun Kang, Centre for University Research Facility, for taking high-quality FESEM and TEM images, respectively.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Organic Materials and Fiber Engineering, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, 561-756, Republic of Korea

    Nasser A. M. Barakat

  2. Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, El-Minia University, El-Minia, Egypt

    Nasser A. M. Barakat

Authors
  1. Nasser A. M. Barakat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nasser A. M. Barakat.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Barakat, N.A.M. Synthesis and characterization of maghemite iron oxide (γ-Fe2O3) nanofibers: novel semiconductor with magnetic feature. J Mater Sci 47, 6237–6245 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-012-6543-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-012-6543-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation