Controlled synthesis and multifaceted characterization of Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles using the exploding wire technique

This research paper presents a detailed investigation into the synthesis and characterization of iron oxide nanoparticles, specifically hematite (α- Fe2O3), maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), and magnetite (Fe3O4), prepared using the Exploding Wire Technique (EWT). The nanoparticles were synthesized by electro- explosion of iron wire in different media, followed by annealing at specific temperatures. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, Mossbauer spectroscopy, electron spin resonance (ESR), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), were employed to analyze the structural, morphological, optical, magnetic, and electrical properties of the nanoparticles. The study confirms the formation of nanoparticles with crystallite sizes ranging from 14.6 nm to 24.6 nm, exhibiting distinct phase compositions and superparamagnetic behavior. The dielectric and AC conductivity properties were evaluated, highlighting the potential of these nanoparticles for applications in microwave de- vices, anti-corrosive coatings, and biomedical fields such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. The findings underscore the versatility of EWT as a scalable method for producing high-quality iron oxide nanoparticles with tailored properties.