Vacancy ordering in γ-Fe2O3 small particles

The effect of particle size on the formation of vacancy-ordered superstructure in γ-Fe₂O₃ powders has been investigated by using X-ray, Mössbauer and chemical analyses. Powders of γ-Fe₂O₃ with different average particle size were prepared by chemical precipitation and subsequent heat-treatment. The X-ray diffraction intensity of the superlattice lines decreases with the particle size of γ-Fe₂O₃ and finally disappears at a particle-size between 300-175 Å, possibly around 200 Å. Therefore ordering of the cation vacancies in ultrafine γ-Fe₂O₃ particles is ruled out. Although the vacancies do not form an ordered structure, they do exclusively occupy B-sites.