SYNTHESIS OF ULTRAFINE/NANOSIZE POWDERS OF IRON OXIDES BY PULSED LASER ABLATION AND COLD CONDENSATION

Ultrafine/nanosize powders of iron oxide have been synthesized from a sintered alpha-Fe2O3 target by pulsed excimer laser ablation and cold condensation. The influence of target porosity and temperature of condensation on the formation of nanosize particles has been studied. The nanosize powders have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, Mossbauer spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry and scanning electron microscopy. It is shown that the formation of ultrafine/nanosiae particles is strongly governed by the target porosity, whereas, the temperature of condensation, over a range from 27 degrees C to -130 degrees C, does not affect the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles.