Self-assembled patterns of iron oxide nanoparticles by hydrothermal chemical-vapor deposition

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Abstract
Here, we report a hydrothermal chemical-vapor deposition process, which produces self-assembled patterns of iron oxide nanoparticles. By exposing a planar silica substrate to a prevaporized mixture of water, ferrocene [Fe(C5H5)2] and xylene (C8H10), at temperatures of ∼1000 °C, Fe2O3 nanoparticles are deposited on the substrate surface, in regular circular patterns. The particle sizes are less than 100 nm, and are organized into submicron-size patterns. The same process without water produces arrays of carbon nanotubes catalyzed by iron nanoparticles that are formed by the decomposition of ferrocene molecules.