Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis of Oxyhydroxides as Intermediate Species in the Formation of Iron Oxides-Silica Xerogels

A detailed infrared spectroscopy analysis in the 2500 to 3800 cm^–1 region has been used to study the formation of species in samples of iron oxides embedded in silica xerogel matrix. We report the presence of , , and forms of iron oxyhydroxides as intermediate species in the formation of -Fe₂O₃, -Fe₂O₃ and -Fe₂O₃ starting from three different iron precursors: iron nitrate, iron chloride and nanometric Fe particles prepared by chemical reduction. Our results show that under thermal dehydration and forms of iron oxyhydroxides transform into hematite and maghemite, respectively, whereas the form transform to the -Fe₂O₃ without going through an intermediate iron oxide phase.