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FORMATION OF IRON OXIDE NANOWIRES BY USING THERMAL OXIDATION OF IRON NUR SYAFINI BINTI SA’AD B051110092 UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA 2015

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Page 1: FORMATION OF IRON OXIDE NANOWIRES BY USING …eprints.utem.edu.my/16650/1/Formation Of Iron Oxide Nanowires By...dan fasa Fe2O3 nanowires yang dibentuk telah disifatkan. Pemerhatian

FORMATION OF IRON OXIDE NANOWIRES BY USING

THERMAL OXIDATION OF IRON

NUR SYAFINI BINTI SA’AD

B051110092

UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA

2015

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B051110092 BACH

ELOR

OF M

ANU

FACTU

RIN

G EN

GIN

EERIN

G (EN

GIN

EERIN

G M

ATERIALS) (H

ON

S.) 2015 UTeM

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UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA

FORMATION OF IRON OXIDE NANOWIRES BY USING

THERMAL OXIDATION OF IRON

This report submitted in accordance with requirement of the Universiti Teknikal

Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) for the Bachelor Degree of Manufacturing Engineering

(Engineering Materials)(Hons.)

by

NUR SYAFINI BINTI SA’AD

B051110092

920522-11-5350

FACULTY OF MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

2015

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UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA

BORANG PENGESAHAN STATUS LAPORAN PROJEK SARJANA MUDA

TAJUK: Formation of Iron Oxide Nanowires by Using Thermal Oxidation of Iron SESI PENGAJIAN: 2014/15 Semester2 Saya NUR SYAFINI BINTI SA’AD mengaku membenarkan Laporan PSM ini disimpan di Perpustakaan Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) dengan syarat-syarat kegunaan seperti berikut: 1. Laporan PSM adalah hak milik Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka dan penulis. 2. Perpustakaan Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka dibenarkan membuat salinan

untuk tujuan pengajian sahaja dengan izin penulis. 3. Perpustakaan dibenarkan membuat salinan laporan PSM ini sebagai bahan

pertukaran antara institusi pengajian tinggi. 4. **Silatandakan ( )

SULIT

TERHAD

TIDAK TERHAD

(Mengandungi maklumat yang berdarjah keselamatan atau kepentingan Malaysia sebagaimana yang termaktub dalam AKTA RAHSIA RASMI 1972)

(Mengandungi maklumat TERHAD yang telah ditentukan oleh organisasi/badan di mana penyelidikan dijalankan)

AlamatTetap: Lorong Mesin Padi

Kampung Alor Limbat

21400 Marang, Terengganu Tarikh: 30 Jun 2015

Disahkanoleh:

Cop Rasmi: Tarikh: 30 Jun 2015

**Jika Laporan PSM ini SULIT atau TERHAD,sila lampirkan surat daripada pihak berkuasa/organisasi berkenaan dengan menyatakan sekali sebab dan tempoh laporan PSM ini perlu dikelaskan sebagai SULIT atau TERHAD.

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DECLARATION

I hereby, declared this report entitled “Formation of Iron Oxide Nanowires by

Using Thermal Oxidation of Iron” is the results of my own research except as cited

in references.

Signature : ………………………………

Author’s Name : NUR SYAFINI BINTI SA’AD

Date : 30 Jun 2015

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APPROVAL

This report is submitted to the Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering of UTeM

as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of

Manufacturing Engineering (Engineering Materials) (Hons.). The member of the

supervisory is as follow:

………………………………

(Project Supervisor)

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ABSTRAK

Oksida ferum nanowires digunakan secara meluas dalam pelbagai aplikasi,

termasuklah fotopemangkinan. Konvensional, oksida ferum nanowires dihasilkan

oleh teknik-teknik seperti; proses sol-gel, kaedah templat, penguraian terma, proses

hidroterma Walau bagaimanapun, teknik-teknik ini mahal dan rumit. Oleh itu,

projek ini bertujuan untuk menghasilkan oksida ferum nanowires dengan

menggunakan pengoksidaan terma ferum. Beberapa paremeter telah disiasat seperti

kesan masa pengoksidaan, suhu pengoksidaan dan keadaan pada substrat. Morfologi

dan fasa Fe2O3 nanowires yang dibentuk telah disifatkan. Pemerhatian FESEM telah

menunjukkan bahawa Fe2O3 struktur nanowires telah terbentuk pada kepingan Fe

tulen. XRD dan spektroskopi Raman mengesahkan fasa fasa: α- Fe2O3, FeO dan

Fe3O4 terbentuk selepas process pengoksidaan manakala EDX digunakan untuk

memastikan nanowires yang terhasil mempunyai oksigen dan ferum. Raman

spektroskopi telah digunakan untuk menyokong morfologi dan fasa yang diperoleh

dari analisis SEM dan XRD. Sampel (pengoksidaan pada 180 min, 500 C, dalam

udara tanpa menitikkan asid sulfurik) adalah tertakluk kepada ujian degradasifoto di

bawah cahaya UV. Hasil daripada degradasifoto ini menunjukkan semakin lama

masa larutan methyl orange terdedah kepada cahaya UV, semakin pudar larutan itu.

Untuk memastikan larutan itu mempunyai perubahan warna, analisis menggunakan

UV visible digunakan. Berdasarkan keputusan yang diperoleh, maka boleh

disimpulkan bahawa larutan itu berlaku proses degradasi apabila masa pendedahan

kepada cahaya semakin menigkat.

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ABSTRACT

An iron oxide nanowire is used widely in a range of applications, which

include photocatalysis. Conventionally, iron oxide nanowires are produced by

techniques such as; sol-gel process, template method, thermal decomposition,

hydrothermal process However, these techniques are costly and complicated.

Hence, this project serves to fabricate the iron oxide nanowires by using thermal

oxidation of iron. Several parameters were investigated such as the effect of

oxidation time, oxidation temperature and condition on the substrate. The

morphologies and phases of Fe2O3 nanowires formed were characterized. FESEM

observation showed that Fe2O3 nanowires structure was successfully formed on pure

Fe foil. XRD and Raman spectroscopy confirmed variant phase: α- Fe2O3, FeO and

Fe3O4 occurred after oxidizing while EDX was used to confirm that the nanowires

consisted of oxygen and iron. Raman spectroscopy was used to support the

morphologies and phases observed by SEM and XRD. The samples (oxidized at 180

min, 500C, in air without dropping sulphuric acid) were subjected to

photodegradation testing under UV light conditions. The result obtain from this

photodegradation shows that, as increase the time of methyl orange solution exposed

to UV light, the solution is become fades. To ensure that the solution has changed

color, UV visible analysis is used. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded

that the solution was effective degradation process when the time of exposure to light

progressively increase.

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DEDICATION

Dedicated to my beloved family members especially my parents, lecturers,

and also to all my friends.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratefulness and gratitude

to those who have rendered their valuable advice, support and guidance to me during

the long journey of completing this research. First and foremost, I would like to

thank my supervisor Dr. Syahriza Ismail for her relentless support, advice and

guidance throughout the entire project. Not to forget the research members: Azreen

and Nadia for all the assistance and guidance provided all this while. I am greatly

touched by the commitments and dedications they have shown. Without the support

and guidance, I would not be able to complete this research. Besides, without the

moral support and understanding from my family especially my father, En Saad Talib

and my late mother, Pn Kelsom Musa, it would be impossible for me to complete this

research. I wish to express my biggest gratefulness and love to my family members.

Finally, I wish to say that I treasure very much the friendship of my friends who have

been very supportive in providing all necessary help and advice during the journey of

completing this research.

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TABLE OF CONTENT

Abstrak i

Abstract ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table of Content v

List of Tables viii

List of Figures ix

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background 1

1.2 Problem Statement 5

1.3 Research Objective 6

1.4 Scopes of Work 6

1.5 Project Outline 6

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction to Nanostructure 8

2.2 Metal Valve Oxide-iron Oxide: Polymorphs and Properties 10

2.3 Technique to Produce Nanowires 14

2.3.1 Hydrothermal process 14

2.3.2 Sol-gel process 15

2.3.3 Template-assisted electrodeposition 15

2.3.4 Thermal decomposition 16

2.3.5 Thermal oxidation 17

2.4 Application of Iron Oxide Nanowires 21

2.4.1 Catalyst 21

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2.4.2 Photoelectrochemical cells 22

2.4.3 Photocatalyst 24

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction 27

3.2 Materials 29

3.3 Design of Experiment 29

3.3.1 Substrate preparation and cleaning 29 3.3.2 Thermal oxidation process 30 3.3.3 Thermal oxidation parameter 31

3.4 Characterization 31

3.4.1 Morphology characterization 32

3.4.1.1 Scanning electron microscopy 32

3.4.2 Structural characterization 32

3.4.2.1 X-ray diffraction 32

3.4.2.2 Electron dispersive X-ray 33

3.4.2.3 Raman spectroscopy 34

3.4.3 Photodegradation testing 34

3.4.3.1 UV lamp chamber 34

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

4.1 Fe2O3 Nanowires Formation by Thermal Oxidation Process 36

4.1.1 Effect of growth time 37

4.1.2 Effect of sulphuric acid on the morphology of samples 39

4.2 Mechanism of Fe2O3 Nanowires Formation 41

4.2.1 Mechanism of Fe2O3 nanostructure in air 41

4.2.2 Mechanism of Fe2O3 nanostructure in air by dropping H2SO4 43

4.3 X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) 43

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4.3.1 Different time effect 44

4.3.2 Influence of H2SO4 on the samples 45

4.4 Raman Spectroscopy Analysis 47

4.4.1 Effect of growth time 47

4.4.2 Effect of sulphuric acid (H2SO4) 49

4.4.3 Effect of temperature 49

4.4 Photodegradation Testing 51

4.5.1 Mechanism of photodegradation 53

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Conclusions 55

5.2 Recommendations 56

REFERENCES 57

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LIST OF TABLES

2.1 Physical and Magnetic Properties of Iron Oxide 11

3.1 The List of Materials Used in the Research 29

3.2 List of Changing Parameter 31

4.1 Raman shift of variant phases iron oxide that match Raman shift

of iron oxide nanowires at 300 C, for 60 min

48

4.2

Raman shift of variant phases iron oxide that match Raman shift of

iron oxide nanowires at 300 C, for 180 min

48

4.3

Raman shift of variant phases iron oxide that match Raman shift of

iron oxide nanowires at 300 C, for 300 min

48

4.4

Raman shift of variant phases iron oxide that match Raman shift of

iron oxide nanowires at 180 min, for 300 C

50

4.5

Raman shift of variant phases iron oxide that match Raman shift of

iron oxide nanowires at 180 min, for 500 C

51

4.6

Raman shift of variant phases iron oxide that match Raman shift of

iron oxide nanowires at 180 min, for 700 C

51

4.7

Sample used for photodegradation of methyl orange

51

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LIST OF FIGURES

1.1 Morphology of single nanowires

2

1.2 Schematic diagram of single nanowires array 2

1.3 Various synthesized method of nanowires 3

1.4 Application of hematite nanowires 4

1.5 Photocatalytic process 4

2.1 Type of Nanomaterials structure (A) 0D spheres and clusters,

(B) 1D nanofibers, wires, and rods, (C) 2Dfilms, plates, and

networks, (D) 3D nanomaterials

8

2.2 Typical SEM image of different types of 1D nanostructure, (A)

nanowires, (B) nanorods, (C) nanotubes, (D) nanobelts, (E)

nanoribbons, and (F) hierarchical nanostructure

10

2.3 Crystal structure of magnetite (Fe3O4) 12

2.4 Crystal structure of hematite (α–Fe2O3) 13

2.5 Crystal structure of maghemite (γ- Fe2O3) 13

2.6 Schematic diagram of hydrothermal process 14

2.7 Schematic diagram of sol-gel process 15

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2.8 Schematic diagram of template-assisted electrodeposition

method

16

2.9 Schematic diagram of thermal decomposition method 17

2.10 Schematic diagram of thermal oxidation process 18

2.11 Step of iron oxide nanowire growth mechanism: 1)oxygen

adsorption, 2)surface oxidization to form nuclei, 3)nuclei

arrangement and 4)formation of nanowires

4)formation of nanowires

19

2.12 The image of Fe substrates oxidize at two different temperatures,

(a) 400 C and (b) 600 C and the different type of layer form

20

2.13 The general catalytic cycle. 22

2.14 The change in activation energy brought about by a catalyst. 22

2.15 Mechanism of phoelectrochemical (PEC) cells 23

2.16 Mechanism of photocatalyst reaction 25

3.1 Flow chart of the experimental work. 28

3.2 Vacuum furnace setup tor thermal oxidation process 30

3.3 Field emission SEM machine

The schematic diagram of the thermal oxidation process.

32

3.4 X-Ray diffraction (XRD) machine

33

3.5 Equipment set-up for photodegradation of methyl orange

35

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4.1 FESEM images of Fe2O3 nanowires formed by thermal

oxidation process within time (a) 60 min, (b)180 min and (c) 300

min at 300 C in air

37

4.2 EDX spectra of Fe2O3 nanowires formed 39

4.3 FESEM images of samples synthesized by reaction of H2SO4

with Fe at time (a) 60 min, (b) 180 min and (c) 300 min at 300

C in air

40

4.4 Schematic stress-driven mechanism of Fe2O3 nanowires growth

via diffusion 42

4.5

XRD patterns for Fe substrate formed by thermal oxidation

process with time (a) 60 min, (b) 180 min and (c) 300 min at 300

C in air

44

4.6 XRD patterns for Fe substrate formed by thermal oxidation

process with pattern focused region of graph 2Ɵ=20-50 45

4.7 XRD patterns for Fe substrate formed by thermal oxidation

process with time at 300 C in air by dropping H2SO4 46

4.8 XRD patterns for Fe substrate formed by thermal oxidation

process with pattern focused region of graph 2Ɵ=20-50. 46

4.9 Raman spectrum for iron oxide nanowires formed by thermal

oxidation process with time at 300 C in air.

47

4.10 Raman spectrum for iron oxide nanowires formed by thermal

oxidation process with time at 300 C in air. by dropping H2SO4 49

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4.11 Raman spectrum for iron oxide nanowires formed by thermal

oxidation process with temperature at 180 min in air 50

4.12 Methyl orange solution degrade as time exposed to UV light 52

4.13 UV-visible analysis at different time exposed to UV light. 53

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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter describe the introduction of the project. In this project, thermal

oxidation process was used to form iron oxide nanowires. This chapter also include

background, problem statement, objective, scope and project outline of the study.

1.1 Background

Nanostructure refers to materials system with at least one dimension is in the

range of ~1-100nm. In a nanostructure, electrons are freely move in other dimension

eventhough there are confined in nanoscale dimension. As compared to individual

atom and molecules, the nanostructure is mostly unique.

Nanowires and nanobelts are semi one dimensional nanostructure based

oxides, they have pulled in much consideration lately. They show unordinary optical,

electronic, attractive and mechanical properties as contrasted with those of mass

materials. It is because of the huge surface related deformity starting from the high

surface to volume degrees. Moreover, some paramount properties of one dimensional

nanostructured based oxide are great high temperature steadiness, oxidation safety

and stable electric properties. Thus, it demonstrates their potential basic building

blocks for new classes of environmentally conscious electronics (Yang et al., 2010).

Since the nanowires is studied, some paramount is important which are the control of

morphology, size and growth direction. Figure 1.1 shows the morphology of

nanowire (Hiralal et al., 2008a) while Figure 1.2 shows the schematic diagram of

single nanowire arrays (Rahim et al., 2014). In addition, the different of

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morphologies get will affect the properties with unique application. A suitable

alignment of substrate is needed for an ensemble of nanowires (Wen et al., 2005).

Figure 1.1: Morphology of single nanowires (Hiralal et al., 2008).

Figure 1.2: Schematic diagram of single nanowire array (Rahim et al., 2014).

Recently, nanowires have been synthesized by several different methods,

such as the hydrothermal process, the template method, the vapour–solid process,

sol–gel technique and thermal decomposition (Liu et al., 2008). Nevertheless,

thermal oxidation in various oxidizing atmosphere is a most simple, cheap and direct

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procedure to form iron oxide nanowires (Grigorescu et al., 2012) shows in Figure

1.3.

Figure 1.3: Various synthesized method of nanowires.

The growth of nanowires on the surface of iron is depending on the condition.

Under typical condition, layer oxide will be formed, as hematite, magnetite and

wustite. Hematite is formed at outer layer while magnetite as an intermediate layer

and wustite layer form on iron iron substrate. As n-type semiconductor, which has

bandgap 2.1 eV, hematite is environmental friendly, not poisonous, corrosion

resistant and also the cost is low. Figure 1.4 shows the usage of hematite.

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Figure 1.4: Application of hematite nanowires

Among of these application, one of interesting is as photocatalyst (Figure

1.5). Photocatalytic reactions promoted by aqueous suspensions of nano sized

transition metal oxides have been subject of abundant number of resent research

(Bakardijeva et al., 2007) with the semiconductor performance, iron oxide is use in

solar photoelectrolysis cells. Hematite is a good catalyst for photooxidation of

sulphite. The details on this iron oxide will be reviewed in chapter 2.

Figure 1.5: Photocatalytic process (Ctibor et al., 2013)

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1.2 Problem Statement

Since the time that Fujishima and Honda reported in 1972, TiO2

photoelectrode methodology is utilized to create hydrogen from water. Ways and

intends to utilize daylight as an essential vitality hotspot for hydrogen fuel era has

been an exceptionally examined point in science and engineering, with a specific end

goal to accomplish an upgraded daylight reaction, materials must have a suitably low

band crevice and ready to part water, and additionally have suitable band edge

positions in respect to the red-ox capability of water. Subsequently, hematite, with

band hole of 2.1 eV has recovered solid examination enthusiasm to be utilized as

terminal water part for hydrogen generation. These are because of the cost, less

advanced yet plentiful materials. Moreover, because of the looked into that had being carried out, it

demonstrated that, the examination about arrangement of iron oxide nanowires by

utilizing warm oxidation system was very constrained. It is accepted that nanowires

develop from tip while reactant (metal) diffuse by means of the surface from the

metal substrate. However the accurate instrument of development is a long way from

clear. All the more as of late, different gatherings have returned to the spontaneous

development of oxide nanowires by warm oxidation of metallic substrates (Fe, Zn

and Cu), despite the fact that a definite orderly study is needing.

Photocatalytic response advanced by watery suspensions of nano estimated

move metals oxide have been subject plenteous number of exploration (Bakardijeva

et al., 2007). Iron oxide has been concentrated on broadly for utilization in sunlight

based photoelectrolysis cells. Bamba et.al., (2006) considered the photocatalytic

oxidation of a few dangers at TiO2 and Fe2O3, surfaces. They found that TiO2

powder is dynamic photocatalyst for cyanide oxidation, while no oxidation was

watched for Fe2O3. Recently a few studies exhibited the confirmation for photograph

reactant arrangement of OH radicals. The era of OH radicals is attained through the

usage of costly oxidants such ozone and H2O2 often in mix, with or without UV

radiation. Nonetheless, in this theory, the photocatalytic action of iron oxide got by

warm oxidation technique which is this system is basic and immediate method.

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1.3 Research Objectives

This research is about the formation of iron oxide nanowires and followings

are the objectives for this work:

a) To produce the iron oxide nanowires formed by thermal oxidation

b) To study the mechanism of iron oxide nanowires by thermal oxidation

c) To study the photocatalysis of iron oxide formed by thermal oxidation

1.4 Scopes of Work

This research covered the study on the formation of Fe2O3 nanowires. For the

synthesis of Fe2O3nanowires, thermal oxidation process was selected. For thermal

oxidation process, the effect of temperature, condition on the substrate and time were

studied. Besides, the photocatalytic application was also considered.

Phase and morphology characterization on the Fe2O3 nanowires was examined by

using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Electron

Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Raman Spectroscopy, UV Visible

Spectrometry and UV lamp chamber.

1.5 Project Outline

This project was conducted to form the iron oxide nanowires structure by

thermal oxidation process. This process was performed in vacuum furnace at

temperature 300 C – 700 C to form the nanowires. The photocatalytic ability of the

formed oxides it tested by using the UV light irradiation.

Chapter one is the introduction for this whole project while in the chapter two

is explain about nanostructure materials, thermal oxidation process and also the