The effects of gallium droplets on the morphologies and structures of alpha-Fe2O3 nanostructures grown on iron substrates

Alpha-Fe2O3 nanowires and nanobelts were grown by the thermal oxidation of iron substrates with or without gallium droplets in the air. The nanowires and nanobelts show a bicrystal structure with the growth direction uniformly along [110]. The morphological and structural properties of the as-grown alpha-Fe2O3 nanostructures are described and the growth condition dependence of the alpha-Fe2O3 nanostructures is shown. The transformation from nanowires to nanobelts occurs with the increase of growth temperature and addition of gallium. In addition, the growth evolution is investigated with reference to the Fe surface diffusion and supersaturation.