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 (Dm) for the α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles formed via the sol and sol–gel processes are 2 < Dm < 3 and 3 < Dm < 4, respectively.