Structural analysis of the transformation mechanisms in iron oxides and oxyhydroxides

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Abstract
A simple representation to describe structures of oxides built up from close-packed stackings (in particular for iron oxides) is developed by referring to the concept of plane trigonal lattices discussed previously by a number of workers. The formalism presented here is used to simply describe topotactic transformations and reactions such as the γ→α transformation of Fe2O3 and the synthesis of iron oxyhydroxides as well as transformation mechanism. These mechanisms rely on displacements of Shockley partial dislocations inside the close-packed structures concerned. Finally, a mathematical operator is put forward which, when applied to the lacunar spinel structure of γ-Fe2O3, describes the γ→α transformation of iron sesquioxide.