The preparation of iron (III) oxide nanoparticles using W/O microemulsion

Iron (III) oxide, Fe₂O₃, nanoparticles were prepared using W/O microemulsion as the reactor. W/O microemulsion was formed using n-heptane as oil phase, water and AOT as the surfactant under the specific composition. Iron (III) Chloride was used as a starting material and Ammonium hydroxide was a precipitating agent. Fe₂O₃, nanoparticles were then produced in situ the water core. Size of particles could be adjusted by the water content of the mixtures. The higher the water content, the bigger the particle size. The average size of the nanoparticles obtained was smaller than 100 nm. Moreover, Fe₂O₃ produced by this method was hematite with hexagonal in structure.