Yin, C.Minakshi, M.Ralph, D.Jiang, Z.Xie, Z.Guo, H.2013-01-032013-01-032011Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2011; 509(41):9821-98250925-8388http://hdl.handle.net/2440/74711Cubic α-Fe<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> (hematite) microparticles (side lengths = 0.3-1.3 μm) have been synthesized using glycine and ferric chloride via a simple one-step hydrothermal reaction. Their morphological, mineralogical and surface properties have been determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XRD analysis indicated that the synthesized α-Fe<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> microparticles were minerallogically pure. An increase in hydrothermal reaction duration from 10 to 24 h increased the atomic percentages of α-Fe<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> on the surface of the microparticles by almost 8%. The mechanism concerning reactions of species to produce this microparticles precipitate was elucidated based on thermodynamics and ionic equilibrium aspects. In the electrochemical analysis, the synthesized α-Fe<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> microparticles (as cathode material) exhibit an approximate charge capacity of 160 mAh/g and excellent coulombic efficiency of 94%. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.en© 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Energy storage materialsOxide materialsCrystal growthα-Fe2O3 microparticlesHydrothermal synthesisJournal article002012289210.1016/j.jallcom.2011.08.0480002959785000182-s2.0-8005296086822634