Fabrication of iron oxide nanoparticles: magnetic and electrochemical sensing property

In this paper, we report a simple synthesis of Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles using hydrothermal method. The formation of the sample was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and UV–Visible absorption spectroscopy. The average crystallite size of the synthesized Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles was estimated to be 61 nm and the particles were of good crystalline nature. Field emission-scanning electron microscopy study of the sample revealed that the Fe 2 O 3 powder has rod-like morphology which is composed of nanoparticles. The vibrating sample magnetometer measurement shows that the nanoparticles possess ferromagnetic property. The synthesized Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles were used to modify glassy carbon electrode (Fe 2 O 3 /GCE) and the modified electrode was used to detect pyrocatechol (PC) in a pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solutions by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. At the Fe 2 O 3 /GCE, PC is oxidized at less positive potential with larger current response than the bare GCE. The proposed sensor exhibits great potential in the field of electrochemical sensing of PC.