Thermal stability of nanocrystalline ε-Fe2O3

Thermal behavior of highly crystalline ε-Fe2O3 nanoparticles of different apparent crystallite sizes was characterized using thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, and analysis of evolved gas by mass spectrometry. Phase composition of the samples was monitored ex situ by X-ray powder diffraction. The results show that the thermal stability of this metastable iron oxide polymorph decreases with increasing particle size. For the particle diameter of 19(2) nm, the transformation temperature was equal to 794(5) °C, while for 28(2) nm only 755(10) °C. Surface of the nanoparticles contained adsorbed water and carbon dioxide. Elimination of these species proceeds in two steps. Water is removed at temperatures below 200 °C and CO2 in the temperature range between 200 and 450 °C.