Nano- and Micro-Sized Fe2O3 Structures Fabricated by UV Imprint Lithography

Abstract

Iron oxide (Fe2O3), and especially hematite, is well known in photoelectrochemical applications such as water splitting and photocatalysis, and can also be used in solar energy conversion. Here, properties of iron oxide nanoparticles are investigated. The differences in the crystallization and refractive index of Fe2O3 nanoparticles, created under varied temperatures, are confirmed and analyzed in this paper. In addition, various nano- to microscale patterns of Fe2O3 nanoparticles enhance their features. UV imprint lithography, one of the simplest lithography procedures, is used to fabricate various iron oxide structures such as nanoholes, pillars, lines, microcones, and moth-eyes on flexible or planar substrates. The optical properties of Fe2O3 patterns as fabricated are measured, and future applications are discussed.