Thermal stability and reduction of iron oxide nanowires at moderate temperatures.
BACKGROUND
The thermal stability of iron oxide nanowires, which were obtained with a hard template method and are promising elements of Li-ion based batteries, has been investigated by means of thermogravimetry, infrared and photoemission spectroscopy measurements.


RESULTS
The chemical state of the nanowires is typical of the Fe2O3 phase and the stoichiometry changes towards a Fe3O4 phase by annealing above 440 K. The shape and morphology of the nanowires is not modified by moderate thermal treatment, as imaged by scanning electron microscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
This complementary spectroscopy-microscopy study allows to assess the temperature limits of these Fe2O3 nanowires during operation, malfunctioning or abuse in advanced Li-ion based batteries.
CNR-ISC, U.O.S. La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, I - 00185 Roma, Italy.
Annalisa
A
Paolone
Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, I - 00185 Roma, Italy.
Marco
M
Angelucci
Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, I - 00185 Roma, Italy.
Stefania
S
Panero
Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, I - 00185 Roma, Italy.
Maria Grazia
MG
Betti
Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, I - 00185 Roma, Italy.
Carlo
C
Mariani
IR spectroscopy; XPS; iron oxide; nanowires; scanning electron microscopy (SEM); thermogravimetry