Effects of experimental conditions on one-dimensional single-crystal nanostructure of β-FeOOH

• DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2011.01.062
• Publication Date: 2011-02-26T07:26:32Z
• Authors: Chengzhen Wei; Zhaodong Nan
• Keywords: Nanorod; Morphology; Sodium dodecyl sulfate

Abstract A facile and friendly environmental route has been developed to prepare one-dimensional β-FeOOH nanorods without any template at low temperature. In the present reaction system, FeCl 3 6H 2 O was used as a single iron precursor. Effects of different experimental conditions on morphology and polymorph of the as-prepared samples were studied. Compared with the urea, the concentration of FeCl 3 influenced evidently the length of the as-formed β-FeOOH nanorods. The aspect ratio of the sample was adjusted from 6 to 24 by changing the concentration of FeCl 3 . When the experimental temperature increased from 70 to 80 °C, the morphology of the resulting β-FeOOH changed from spindle to rod. The influences of different kinds of electrolytes on the final products were also studied. The results demonstrated that different electrolytes (KCl, KSCN, NaNO 3 and NH 4 Cl) can strongly influence the sizes and structures of the as-prepared samples. Compared with various surfactants, the anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), affected significantly the morphology and size of the as-prepared samples. Nanoribbon-shaped β-FeOOH was synthesized in the presence of SDS for the first time.