Preparation and characterization of alpha-Fe2O3 nanorod-thin film by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition

Alpha iron oxide (alpha-Fe2O3) films were grown on catalyst-free silicon substrate using a vertical type metalorganic chemical vapor deposition process. X-ray powder diffraction and field-emission transmission electron microscopy measurements showed that these alpha-Fe2O3 films consisted of bundles of one dimensional (1D) nanorods and the nanorods in these alpha-Fe2O3 films were single crystalline with a well-ordered rhombohedral structure. The nanorods showed a preferred growth orientation in the [104] direction. Magnetic force microscopy image suggests that spin domains were formed in the alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods. Photo-catalytic property of these nanorod films was confirmed through the photo-degradation of Rhodamine B by UV irradiation. These alpha-Fe2O3 film/nanorod materials could be used as building blocks for nanodevice applications. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.