A combined micro-Raman, X-ray absorption and magnetic study to follow the glycerol-assisted growth of epsilon-iron oxide sol-gel coatings Articles uri icon

authors

  • LOPEZ SANCHEZ, JESUS
  • SERRANO, AIDA
  • DEL CAMPO, ADOLFO
  • MUÑOZ NOVAL, ALVARO
  • SALAS COLERA, EDUARDO
  • CABERO, MARIONA
  • VARELA DEL ARCO, MARIA
  • VARELA, MARIA
  • ABUIN, MANUEL
  • CASTRO, GERMAN R.
  • RUBIO-ZUAZO, JUAN
  • RODRIGUEZ DE LA FUENTE, OSCAR
  • CARMONA, NOEMI

publication date

  • February 2022

start page

  • 1

end page

  • 11

volume

  • 892

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0925-8388

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1873-4669

abstract

  • Epsilon iron oxide (ε-Fe2O3) coatings on Si(100) substrates are obtained by an easy one-pot sol-gel recipe assisted by glycerol in an acid medium. Glycerol, given its small dimensions, enables the formation of ε-Fe2O3 nanoparticles with a size of a few nanometers and the highest purity is reached in coatings after a densification treatment at 960 °C. The structural and compositional evolution up to 1200 °C is studied by confocal Raman microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy techniques, correlating the existing magnetic properties. We report a novel characterization method, which allows monitoring the evolution of the precursor micelles as well as the intermediate and final phases formed. Furthermore, the inherent industrial technology transfer of the sol-gel process is also demonstrated with the ε-Fe2O3 polymorph, impelling its application in the coatings form.

keywords

  • epsilon iron oxide; sol-gel method; glycerol as a steric agent; x-ray absorption spectroscopy; confocal raman microscopy; magnetism