High index facet bounded α-Fe2O3 pseudocubic nanocrystals with enhanced electrochemical properties: Zn2+ ion assisted solvo-hydrothermal synthesis

Abstract

Pseudocubic α-Fe₂O₃ nanocrystals were grown by a surfactant-free, low temperature, solvo-hydrothermal process and characterised by XRD, FESEM, TEM, FTIR, Raman, XPS and UV-vis analysis. These α-Fe₂O₃ nanocrystals were bounded by high index facets {012}, {01} and {10} having an average edge length of 120 nm and a dihedral angle of 85°. The growth of high index facet bounded α-Fe₂O₃ pseudocubic nanocrystals was contributed by the structure inducing properties of Zn²⁺ cations (ZnCl₂) added to the mother solution. This work also sheds light into the low impedance and enhanced electrochemical activities of high index facet bounded α-Fe₂O₃ pseudocubic nanocrystals, which exhibited good electrochemical sensing response towards aqueous ammonia.