The Iron Behaviour in Aluminosilicate Gel-Derived Materials

Abstract

Electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements have been carried out on a 10Fe₂O₃ · 10Al₂O₃ · 80SiO₂ gel heat-treated at different temperatures in air and under reducing conditions. ESR spectra were obtained at 300, 50 and 5 K. The “effective” g value (g = hν/βH), linewidth (ΔH_pp) and ESR amplitude (A) depend on heat-treatment temperature of the gel-derived samples. ESR spectra exhibit different magnetic characteristics as a function of heat-treatment temperature and atmosphere. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a.c. susceptibility (χ_a.c.) analyses were used to better understand the ESR results. The results show that in the samples heat-treated in air, up to 700°C, Fe³⁺ ions are incorporated in the glass network in tetrahedral and/or octahedral co-ordinations. In the samples heat-treated between 250 and 700°C was not detected, by ESR, the presence of iron oxide aggregates. However, the formation of hematite particles was observed by XRD and SEM. The presence of iron oxide aggregates was detected (by ESR) in the samples heat-treated at temperatures higher than 700°C. These aggregates are formed, at 1200 and 1300°C, by hematite and magnetite particles as proved by XRD. The ESR spectra and a.c. susceptibility, of the samples heat-treated at 250°C (under reducing conditions), show a behaviour characteristic of small magnetite particles presence. The sample heat-treated at 500°C (under reducing conditios) contains magnetite particles (XRD). In the ESR spectra of the sample heat-treated at 1000°C, under reducing conditions, was not detected any resonance signal.