Iron-based nanoparticles prepared by precipitation from solid solution of saturated binary Cu-Fe alloy were studied by transmission electron microscopy, high-energy X-ray diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The results showed that the investigated asprepared nanoparticles contained two phases.
The major phase was determined as α-Fe and the minor phase as γ-Fe2O3. Furthermore, additionally annealed samples in Ar protective atmosphere were investigated.
Results showed clear decrease in contribution of α-Fe phase and also revealed the presence of various iron oxides (maghemite, magnetite, hematite and wüstite).