PREPARATION OF FE3O4 FINE PARTICLES THROUGH A SOLVOTHERMAL PROCESS

A so-called solvothermal process, which differs in several aspects fro m the hydrothermal synthesis, has been used to prepare Fe3O4 fine part icles well defined in size and morphology. The nature of the solvent a nd its physical properties in the supercritical state, the choice of t he precursor, as well as the pressure and temperature domains have led to the control of the nucleation and crystal growth of the microcryst allites with a specific shape. Using iron oxide hydroxide (FeOOH) as t he precursor and a mixture of water and ethanol, which has reducing pr operties as a solvent, fine particles with an octahedral morphology an d a size of about 1 mum have been prepared.