Mössbauer study of nano-TiO2 doped with Fe

A Mössbauer study of nano-TiO₂ doped with Fe is presented. The samples are prepared by sol-gel method, doping Fe by 5, 10 and 15 wt.%, respectively, which are measured with XRD, TEM and Raman spectra. Especially, Mössbauer spectra are emphasized in this study. The anatase phase is major in both doped and no-doped sample. The α-Fe₂O₃ phase is also in the doped samples. The grain size of doped sample is in 5–20 nm range, the major grains are about 13 nm. And the grain size of no-doped sample is about 8 nm. Studying Mössbauer spectra and Raman spectra, we concluded that in the doping process the Fe³⁺ ions entered anatase lattice and substituted Ti⁴⁺ ions. However, the amount of Fe ions in the site is limited to about 1.5 wt.%. It does not increase as the doping Fe increase. The more Fe doped, the more α-Fe₂O₃ formed. For comparing conveniently, it also can be described as (Ti_0.98Fe_0.02)O₂ by atomic percent.     

An in situ iron-57 Mössbauer spectroscopic investigation of the reduction of ironcerium oxide catalysts in different gaseous reducing agents

The formation of iron-cerium oxide catalysts by the treatment in hydrogen or carbon monoxide of air-dried precipitates has been monitored in situ by⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. The results show that the initial calcination of the precipitates in air induces phase segregation and the formation of small concentrations of large particle α-iron(III) oxide in combination with cerium dioxide. Treatment of the solid in hydrogen at 450°C results in the facile reduction of α-Fe₂O₃ to metallic iron which is unaffected by exposure to a reactant gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Exposure of the biphasic material formed in air to carbon monoxide at similar temperatures induces the reduction of α-Fe₂O₃ to Fe₃O₄ and metallic iron and the subsequent formation of iron carbide. The carbided catalyst is not changed by exposure to a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. In distinct contrast the cerium orthoferrite of composition CeFeO₃ suffers only slight reduction when treated in hydrogen and shows a very limited amenability to carbide formation when treated in carbon monoxide.     

Study of the Morin Transition in Pseudocubic α-Fe2O3 Particles

We have studied the Morin transition in nanostructured pseudocubic α-Fe₂O₃ particles of about 1.8 μm side. The preparation was carefully chosen to obtain a system with a very narrow crystallite size distribution and particles of homogeneous morphology. Two samples were studied: one without thermal treatment (α-Fe₂O₃(ap)) and another annealed at 673 K in air for 12 h (α-Fe₂O₃(an)). Both were characterized by XRD, SEM, TGA and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The results indicate that the Morin transition is suppressed for α-Fe₂O₃(ap), however, α-Fe₂O₃(an) has a T _M ≈ 230 K and the transition is completed over a very narrow temperature range. These results are discussed in connection with the crystallite size, the cell parameters, and the presence of OH^? groups (hydrohematite) or incorporated water (protohematite).     

Mössbauer spectroscopic properties of tin-doped iron oxides

The ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra recorded in situ from tin-doped Fe₃O₄ at elevated temperature in vacuo shows the Curie temperature to decrease with increasing concentrations of the dopant. Thermal treatment under oxidising conditions results in the initial formation of tin-doped γ-Fe₂O₃ which subsequently undergoes a phase transformation to tin-doped α-Fe₂O₃. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy at elevated temperatures shows the Néel temperature for tin-doped γ-Fe₂O₃ to be lower than that of pure γ-Fe₂O₃. The ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer spectra recorded from all the tin-doped iron oxides show the presence of a hyperfine magnetic field at the Sn⁴⁺ site which is more complex in the spectra recorded from tin-doped γ-Fe₂O₃ and α-Fe₂O₃.     

Iron-containing atmospheric aerosols in the Chernobyl fallout

Mössbauer spectroscopy was applied to determine the composition and the iron concentration in the atmospheric aerosols contaminated in Sofia, Bulgaria after the Chernobyl accident. The results confirm the major conclusion of the Kopcewiczs for Poland, i.e. that in the initial filters, collected during the contaminating fallout (30.04–05.05.1986), the iron concentration was highest, 3.69 μg/m³ and that magnetite Fe₃O₄ was present. For the following days a change in the chemical composition including the presence of α-Fe₂O₃, α-FeOOH and γ-FeOOH as well as the absence of magnetite, was detected. Input of industrial iron contamination was negligible since the nearby steel plant had worked at minimum power due to official holidays. Unfortunately, Mössbauer spectroscopy studies only, do not allow a definite conclusion about an increase of the isotope abundance of ⁵⁷Fe in the Chernobyl fallout.     

57Fe Mössbauer study under high pressure; ε-Fe and Fe2O3

Using diamond anvil cell, the⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra of pure iron foil and α-Fe₂O₃ powder under high pressure have been measured at room temperature.⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra of α-Fe were measured from 15 GPa to 45 GPa. Isomer shift value decreased and the quadrupole splitting slightly increased as the pressure increased.⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra of Fe₂O₃ under high pressure up to 72 GPa were observed. Above 52 GPa, the new lines appeared at the center portion of the spectrum corresponding to the new high pressure phase. The spectrum of new high pressure phase consisted of 6-line splitting and doublet, suggesting the existence of the two different kinds of iron states in it.     

Effect of Sn on methane decomposition over Fe supported catalysts to produce carbon

In this work, alumina-supported Sn containing Fe catalysts were investigated in CVD reactions (Chemical Vapor Deposition) using methane for carbon production. The catalysts were prepared with 10 wt.% of Fe (as Fe₂O₃) and 3, 6 and 12 wt.% of Sn (as SnO₂) supported on Al₂O₃ named hereon Fe10Sn3A, Fe5Sn6A and Fe10Sn12A, respectively. These catalysts were characterized by SEM, TPCVD, TPR, TG, Raman, XRD and ⁵⁷Fe and ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy. Methane reacts with Fe10A catalyst (without Sn) in the temperature range 680?C900°C to produce mainly Fe⁰, Fe₃C and 20 wt.% of carbon deposition. TPR and TPCVD clearly showed that Sn strongly hinders the CH₄ reaction over Fe catalyst. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer suggested that in the presence of Sn the reduction of Fe^?+?3 by methane becomes very difficult. ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer showed Sn^?+?4 species strongly interact with metallic iron after CVD, producing iron-tin phases such as Fe₃SnC and FeSn₂. This interaction Sn?CFe increases the CVD temperatures and decreases the carbon yield leading to the production of more organized forms of carbon such as carbon nanotubes, nanofibers and graphite.     

Nanowires of iron oxides embedded in SiO2 templates

To attain the complete filling of the channels of MCM-41 with magnetite and maghemite, we have tried out an alternative method to the incipient wetness impregnation. The mesoporous material was instilled with a Fe-carrying organic salt after subjecting the matrix to a silylation treatment. Thus, a solid of 7.7 wt.% iron-loaded MCM-41 was obtained. Different subsequent thermal treatments were used to produce γ-Fe₂O₃ or Fe₃O₄. The Mössbauer and magnetic results show that after this method, the as-prepared composite displays a size-distribution of magnetic particles. It is mainly made up of fine particles that display a superparamagnetic relaxation at room temperature and get blocked at ≈42 K for the AC susceptibility time-scale measurements both for γ-Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄ particles. For both samples, about 24% of larger iron-containing phases are magnetically blocked at room temperature. For the Fe₃O₄ particles, this fraction undergoes the Verwey transition at about 110 K; in addition, there is a minor Fe (III) fraction that remains paramagnetic down to 4.2 K.     

Thermal decomposition of almandine garnet: Mössbauer study

The thermal decomposition of almandine garnet from Zoltye Vody, Ukraine, has been studied using⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. Room temperature Mössbauer spectrum of the initial powdered sample is characterised by one doublet corresponding to Fe²⁺ in dodecahedral position 24c. In the room temperature spectra of all heated almandine samples, a doublet corresponding to γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles appeared. Depending on experimental conditions (heating temperature and time), the additional spectral lines of α-Fe₂O₃ and ε-Fe₂O₃ were observed in Mössbauer spectra. It is obvious that the thermal transformation of almandine garnet in air is related to the primary formation of γ-Fe₂O₃ superparamagnetic nanoparticles. γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles are transformed into ε-Fe₂O₃ and consequently into α-Fe₂O₃ at higher temperatures. The mechanism and kinetics of the individual structural transformations depend on experimental conditions — mainly on the heating temperature and size of the particles.     

Characterization of the Calcination Products of the Precipitates Obtained from the Bio-Oxidation with Thiobacillus Ferrooxidans of Sulphuric Water Pickling Liquors

The characterization of the calcination products of the precipitates obtained from the bio-oxidation with Thiobacillus ferrooxidans of sulphuric water pickling liquors has been carried out by means of Mössbauer spectroscopy, x-ray powder diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that a full transformation of the precipitates into α-Fe₂O₃ is achieved at temperatures higher than 850°C. Calcination at 700°C during two hours results in the formation of α-Fe₂O₃, ζ-Fe₂O₃ and Fe₁₂O₃(SO₄)₁₅. The Mössbauer parameters of ζ-Fe₂O₃ and Fe₁₂O₃(SO₄)₁₅ at 298 and 17K are reported.     

Synthesis and characterization of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Monodisperse iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) of 4 nm were obtained through high-temperature solution phase reaction of iron (III) acetylacetonate with 1, 2-hexadecanediol in the presence of oleic acid and oleylamine. The as-synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. The species obtained were Fe₃O₄ and/or $\upgamma$ -Fe₂O₃. These NPs are superparamagnetic at room temperature and even though the reduced particle size they show a high saturation magnetization (MS ≈ 90 emu/g).     

Chemical reactions induced by 40 keV He+ ions in Fe3O4 and α-Fe2O3

The chemical reactions induced by 40 keV He⁺ ions in α-Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄ were investigated by the conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy(CEMS). Magnetite(Fe₃O₄) was formed upon the bombardment of α-Fe₂O₃, whereas no change was observed in Fe₃O₄. The initial G value for Fe₃O₄ formation is estimated to be 3.5×10^?4 for 100 nm depth from the surface. The application of CEMS and sputtering technique to ion bombardment chemistry is discussed.     

Chemical state of cobalt doped in and adsorbed on α-(Fe1-x Cr x )2O3 by emission Mössbauer spectroscopy

Mössbauer parameters (internal magnetic field, quadrupole splitting and isomer shift) of both α-(Fe_1-x Cr _x )₂O₃ (x=0, 0.2 and ≈1.0) doped and undoped with⁵⁷Co are in good agreement at room temperature and 77 K, except internal magnetic fields of both α-Cr₂O₃ doped with⁵⁷Co and enriched⁵⁷Fe. It is thus concluded that⁵⁷Fe produced from⁵⁷Co occupies the octahedral sites as Fe³⁺ with small distortion from cubic symmetry. Different internal magnetic field of doped α-Cr₂O₃ may be explained by the difference of canting of the spin against the [111] axis. By adding zinc ions, the adsorption of Co²⁺ ions on α-Fe₂O₃ particles in aqueous solution is decreased considerably in the pH range of 6.5–9.5 at 303 K, but the internal magnetic field of⁵⁷Co adsorbed on α-Fe₂O₃ does not change, although the internal magnetic fields of both samples with and without zinc ions are smaller than that of bulk α-Fe₂O₃ doped with⁵⁷Co. This suggests that densities of⁵⁷Co ions on the surface of α-Fe₂O₃ may be decreased by the addition of zinc ions and⁵⁷Co ions adsorbed on α-Fe₂O₃ are weakly bound on the substrate.     

Mössbauer spectroscopy on57Fe in highT c superconductor Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O y

Mössbauer measurements were performed on polycrystalline⁵⁷Fe: Bi₂Sr₂Ca₁Cu₂O _y , super-conductor in the temperature range of 77–296 K. The samples were obtained in a solid phase synthesis using 0.01, 0.03, 0.1 and 0.5 mol fractions of α-Fe₂O₃ (96% enriched in⁵⁷Fe). A prevailing quadrupole doublet practically independent of temperature and iron concentration characterizes the obtained Mössbauer spectra. The corresponding hyperfine parameters suggest the presence of high spin Fe¹¹¹ ions in a strongly distorted octahedral symmetry which indicates a probable copper substitution by iron in the system.     

Concerning the cation distribution in MnFe2O4 synthesized through the thermal decomposition of oxalates

A single phase manganese ferrite powder have been synthesized through the thermal decomposition reaction of MnC₂O₄·2H₂O-FeC₂O₄·2H₂O (1:2 mole ratio) mixture in air. DTA-TG, XRD, Mössbauer spectroscopy, FT-IR and SEM techniques were used to investigate the effect of calcination temperature on the mixture. Firing of the mixture in the range 300-500 °C produce ultra-fine particles of α-Fe₂O₃ having paramagnetic properties. XRD, Mössbauer spectroscopy as well as SEM experiments showed the progressive increase in the particle size of α-Fe₂O₃ up to 500 °C. DTA study reveals an exothermic phase transition at 550 °C attributed to the formation of a Fe₂O₃-Mn₂O₃ solid solution which persists to appear up to 1000 °C. At 1100 °C, the single phase MnFe₂O₄ with a cubic structure predominated. The Mössbauer effect spectrum of the produced ferrite exhibits normal Zeeman split sextets due to Fe³⁺ions at tetrahedral (A) and octahedral (B) sites. The obtained cation distribution from Mössbauer spectroscopy is (Fe_0.92Mn_0.08)[Fe_1.08Mn_0.92]O₄.     

An iron-57 Mössbauer spectroscopy and EXAFS study of the hydrogen pretreatment of titania-supported iron-ruthenium catalysts

The changes in composition and structure which are induced in a titania-supported iron-ruthernium catalyst following treatment in hydrogen have been investigated in situ by⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and by EXAFS. The results show that ruthenium dioxide is readily reduced at temperatures below ca. 500°C to ca. 20 Å clusters of metallic ruthenium whilst α-Fe₂O₃ is partially reduced at 130°C to Fe²⁺ and Fe⁰. The Fe³⁺ which is formed by the reoxidation of Fe²⁺ under the reducing conditions at 500°C segregates to the interface of the bimetallic phase and the titania support. It is suggested that continued treatment at 700°C produces a high dispersion of iron which is coordinated to oxygen atoms of the support. The ca. 20 Å clusters of metallic ruthenium may be envisaged as being anchored to the support via iron-ruthenium bonds     

Visible light activated photo-catalytic effect and local structure of iron silicate glass prepared by sol-gel method

A relationship between methylene blue (MB) decomposition ability under visible light and local structure of xFe₂O₃·(100-x)SiO₂ glass abbreviated as xFS prepared by sol-gel method was investigated by ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and ultraviolet-visible light absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis). Mössbauer spectra of xFS glass with x of 10, 30 and 50 annealed at 1000 °C for 3 h were mainly composed of a paramagnetic doublet due to fayalite (Fe₂SiO₄), and magnetic sextets due to magnetite (Fe₃O₄) or hematite (α-Fe₂O₃). The absorption area (A) of α-Fe₂O₃ gradually increased from 0.0 to 10.3 and 100 % with the increasing Fe₂O₃ content (x) of annealed xFS glass. A leaching test performed by 20 mL of MB aqueous solution and 40 mg of annealed 50FS glass showed that MB concentration decreased from 16.2 to 4.7 μmol L^?1 after 2 h with the first order rate constant of 1.8 × 10^?4 s^?1. These results prove that annealed iron silicate glass containing α-Fe₂O₃ can decompose MB effectively under visible light irradiation.     

Characterization of initial atmospheric corrosion of conventional weathering steels and a mild steel in a tropical atmosphere

The phases and compositions of the corrosion products of a mild steel (A-36) and two weathering steels (A-588 and COR 420) formed after 3 months exposure to the tropical marine atmosphere of Panama were examined using FTIR and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The results show that amorphous or crystallized iron oxyhydroxides goethite α-FeOOH and lepidocrocite γ-FeOOH are early corrosion products. Maghemite γ-Fe₂O₃ and magnetite Fe₃O₄ have also been identified and found to be prominent components for steels exposed to the most aggressive conditions. The formation of akaganeite β-FeOOH was observed when chlorides were occluded within the rust. FTIR showed the presence of hematite α-Fe₂O₃ in one sample.     

Iron-57 and iridium-193 Mössbauer spectroscopic studies of supported iron-iridium catalysts

⁵⁷Fe and¹⁹³Ir Mössbauer spectroscopy shows that silica- and alumina-supported iron-iridium catalysts formed by calcination in air contain mixtures of small particle iron (III) oxide and iridium(IV) oxide. The iridium dioxide in both supported catalysts is reduced in hydrogen to metallic iridium. The α-Fe₂O₃ in the silica supported materials is predominantly reduced in hydrogen to an iron-iridium alloy whilst in the alumina-supported catalyst the iron is stabilised by treatment in hydrogen as iron(II). Treatment of a hydrogen-reduced silica-supported iron catalyst in hydrogen and carbon monoxide is accompanied by the formation of iron carbides. Carbide formation is not observed when the iron-iridium catalysts are treated in similar atmospheres. The results from the bimetallic catalysts are discussed in terms of the hydrogenation of associatively adsorbed carbon monoxide and the selectivity of supported iron-iridium catalysts to methanol formation.     

Investigating the formation and magnetic properties of the Dy0.75Fe1.25O3 orthoferrite prepared by sol-gel method

In this paper, the Dy_0.75Fe_1.25O₃ orthoferrite nanoparticles were synthesized successfully by sol-gel method. Dy_0.75Fe_1.25O₃ orthoferrite nanoparticles are obtained by calcining the flakes at 600 and 700 °C. The magnetic properties of the different samples are investigated using Quantum Design MPMS SQUID magnetometer and MS-500 Mössbauer spectrometer. Magnetic phase γ-Fe₂O₃ coexists in the samples calcined at 600 °C and orthoferrite phase is completely recovered in the samples calcined at 700 °C. Although excessive Fe³⁺ ions were introduced, none of these iron spins couple magnetically with Dy³⁺ ions.