Synthesis of iron oxide powders by hydrothermal process

Iron oxide powders were prepared under high temperature (up to $175^{\circ}C$) and pressure conditions( up to 129 pasi) by precipitation from metal nitrates with aqueous potassium hydroxide. Various types of iron oxide powders were obtained at different conditions. The size and the shape of the particles can be controlled as afunction of starting solution pH. The average particles size of the synthesized iron oxide powders increased, the particle shapes of the powders became fibrous, and the crystalline phase of the powder changes from iron oxide to iron hydroxide with increasing solution pH. The effects of synthesis parameters are discussed.