Thermally-induced solid state transformation of β‐Fe2O3 nanoparticles in various atmospheres

To date, iron oxides have become one of the most studied nanomaterials due to their interesting and aaplication appealing physical, chemical, and biological properties in comparison with their bulk counterparts. In general, four forms of iron(III) oxide can be distinguished depending on their crystallographic and magnetic properties. In this work, one of the rare phases of iron(III) oxide, β‐Fe2O3, prepared by the solid state reaction was explored for the thermal transformations in various ambient atmospheres, including O2, N2, and CO2 atmospheres. The thermally treated products were investigated employing X-ray powder diffraction and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy.