A novel chemical reduction route toward fabrication of Fe3O4 octahedrons and Fe tubes

Novel Fe3O4 octahedrons and Fe microtubes were successfully prepared in different alkaline concentration solutions by the reduction of hematite (α-Fe2O3) with hydrazine hydrate. The as-prepared powders were characterized in detail by conventional techniques such as X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The role of alkaline concentration during the reaction process is discussed in detail. Compared to the reaction in a water system, the reaction in ethanol required less sodium hydroxide and smaller particles were obtained. In addition, the magnetic properties of the samples were characterized using a vibrating sample magnetometer.