Controlled synthesis of novel flowerlike α-Fe2O3 nanostructures via a one-step biphasic interfacial reaction route

Novel flowerlike alpha-Fe2O3 hierarchical architectures were successfully synthesized via a one-step biphasic interfacial reaction route at the benzene-water interface. The as-obtained products were characterized using XRD, FESEM, TEM, SAED, and N-2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. The results revealed that these flowerlike microstructures were composed of many column-shaped nanobundles and had an average diameter of 420-550 nm. It was found that the reaction temperature, Fe(acac)(3) concentration, and the amount of PVP play important roles in the formation of nanobundle-based flowerlike architectures. In addition, the benzene-water interface also provided an effective medium for the synthesis of hierarchical flowerlike architectures. On the basis of time-dependent experimental results, a possible mechanism for the formation of the flowerlike microstructures was speculated. Furthermore, we also evaluated the photocatalytic properties, using the degradation of rhodamine B, and removal efficiencies to heavy metal ion Cr(VI) in water treatment of the as-synthesized flowerlike alpha-Fe2O3 sample.