Nanocrystalline α-Fe and ε-Fe3N particles prepared by chemical vapor condensation process

Abstract Nanocrystalline α-Fe and e-Fe 3 N particles were synthesized by chemical vapor condensation method using Fe(CO) 5 in a flowing NH 3 atmosphere. Structural characteristics were investigated systematically by means of X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray. The mean particle size was in the order of 10–40 nm with uniform dispersion. With increasing decomposition temperature, the phase transformation occurred from amorphous+α-Fe nanoparticles to amorphous +α-Fe + Fe–N nanoparticles, and then to e-Fe 3 N nanocrystalline. Magnetic properties of the Fe–N nanocrystalline particles were examined by vibrating sample magnetometer.