A Solventless Method to Prepare Hematite using Thermal Decomposition of Ferrocene

Solventless solid state thermal reaction of ferrocene in presence of Fe(II)acetylacetonate is monitored by thermogravimetry. Though pure ferrocene suffers 100% mass loss on heating, the mixture of it with Fe(II) acetylacetonate gives rise to ~20% decomposed material below 600 K. Structure and morphology of the decomposed material are investigated by powder XRD and SEM techniques, respectively, while the magnetic property of the material is investigated by magnetization study as well as 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy.