Spherical Fe2O3 nanoparticles were prepared by the polyol process of organometallic precursor (Fe(acac)3) in the presence of a reducing agent with a stabilizing agent. These were then heat-treated to make crystalline of Fe2O3 nanoparticles. Also, a seedmediated growth technique was used to make them larger. TEM images of Fe2O3 nanoparticles made by the polyol process showed that the average particle size is 2.265 nm in diameter and the overall particle size distribution is narrow. It was confirmed that the diameter of Fe2O3 nanoparticles re-treated through the seed-mediated growth method had doubled by analyzing TEM images and the UV-visible spectrum. From XRD analysis, Fe2O3 nanoparticles transformed from amorphous to the hematite (α-Fe2O3) phase above 500 oC.

Keywords: Fe2O3 nanoparticles, polyol process, reducing agent, stabilizing agent, seed-mediated growth technique