Mohammad Golmohammad - School of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Tehran, Iran Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
Farhad Golestanifard - School of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Tehran, Iran
Alireza Mirhabibi - School of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Tehran, Iran Institute for Materials Research (IMR) , University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom

The synthesis of iron oxide nano-particles by direct thermal decomposition was studied. Simultaneous thermal analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results confirmed the formation of iron-urea complex, and disclosed iron oxide formation mechanism. Calcination of the iron-urea complex at ۲۰۰°C and ۲۵۰°C for ۲ hrs. resulted in the formation of maghemite along with hematite as a second phase. X-ray diffraction results revealed that increment of iron-urea complex calcination temperature led to the augmentation of hematite to maghemite ratio. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy results showed that the average particle size was around ۳۸nm for sample calcined at ۲۵۰°C for ۲ hrs. The anode body was doctor bladed using primary powder with polyvinylidene difluoride and graphite. Galvanostatic charge–discharge cycling showed a reversible capacity of ۴۸۳ mAh g-۱ at ۱۰۰ mA g−۱ current density. The reason for this competent performance was thought to be dependent upon the particle sizes.

Iron oxide, Li-ion battery, anode, Thermal decomposition, Nanoparticles