Abstract

α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were prepared by the sol–gel process with ethylene oxide (EO) and FeCl₃ as starting materials. The influences of the molar ratio of EO to Cl⁻, the concentration of FeCl₃, the volume percentage of ethanol and heat treatment on the structural properties of the α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were investigated by XRD, TEM and SAXS (small angle X-ray scattering) techniques. It was found that the mean size of the α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles formed via the sol–gel process is smaller than those formed via the sol process. The values of the mass fractal dimension (D_m) for the α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles formed via the sol and sol–gel processes are 2 < D_m < 3 and 3 < D_m < 4, respectively.