IR-PLD assisted growth of iron oxide nanostructures

Abstract

Iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) nanowires and nanoflakes were prepared by combined infrared pulsed laser deposition (IR-PLD) technique and thermal oxidation route in carbon rich environment. The thermal oxidation in carbon rich environment of Fe spheriodal particulates results into formation of radially outward iron oxide nanostructures. Nanoflakes were observed to grow on smaller spheriodal iron particulates and nanowires populate at larger iron spheriodal particulates. The formation of different structures depends on the stress exerted on the iron surface during oxidation.