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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Fabrication of Spatially Confined Complex Oxides

Fabrication of Spatially Confined Complex Oxides

Published on: July 1, 2013

Size-driven structural and thermodynamic complexity in iron oxides.

Alexandra Navrotsky¹, Lena Mazeina, Juraj Majzlan

¹Peter A. Rock Thermochemistry Laboratory and Nanomaterials in the Environment, Agriculture, and Technology Organized Research Unit, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. anavrotsky@ucdavis.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|March 22, 2008

Summary

Nanoscale iron oxides, often poorly crystalline, can be more stable than larger crystals due to surface energy. This thermodynamic data explains their natural occurrence.

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Area of Science:

Geochemistry
Materials Science
Environmental Science

Background:

Iron oxides are widespread in nature and technology, existing in diverse forms.
Many iron oxides are nanophase, poorly crystalline, and exhibit variable hydration states.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent thermodynamic data on iron oxide formation and surface energies.
To understand the stability and occurrence of iron oxides in various environments.

Main Methods:

Summarization of recently measured thermodynamic data.
Calculation of thermodynamic stability fields for iron oxides and oxyhydroxides.

Main Results:

Thermodynamic data on formation and surface energies of iron oxides have been compiled.
Nanoscale polymorphs, metastable at larger sizes, can become thermodynamically stabilized.

Conclusions:

Surface energy significantly influences the stability of iron oxides at the nanoscale.
Size-driven stability crossovers explain the natural prevalence of specific iron oxide phases.