Synthesis of microcrystalline hematite and magnetite in organic solvents and effect of a small amount of water in the solvents

Microcrystalline magnetite (Fe3O4) particles having diameters of 7-34 nm we re synthesized by thermal treatment of iron(III) acetylacetonate in organic solvents at high temperatures (423-573 K) and under autogenous pressures o f the solvents. When the treatment was conducted in l-propanol containing a small amount of water (1-3 vol%), nanosized hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) crystal lized, which then was reduced to magnetite after a prolonged reaction time, indicating that a small amount of water in l-propanol drastically changed the reaction mechanism for the formation of iron oxides.