Synthesis of self-assembled prismatic iron oxide nanoparticles by a novel thermal decomposition route

Magnetic nanostructured materials with novel morphologies are often required for interesting applications. In the present study, iron oxide nanoparticles with prismatic hexagonal morphology were synthesized using a novel low temperature thermal decomposition approach. The thermal decomposition of Fe(CON2H4)6(NO3)3 in diphenyl ether at about 200 °C for 70 min leads to the formation of prismatic iron oxide nanoparticles. The prismatic particles were found to be made up of self-assembled iron oxide nanoparticles. The iron oxide nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, field emission-scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and magnetic measurements. The mechanism of formation of prismatic iron oxide nanoparticles has also been investigated.