This work describes an oxidation process of iron-iron oxide core-shell nanowires at temperatures between 100 °C and 800 °C. The studied nanomaterial was synthesized through a simple chemical reduction of iron trichloride in an external magnetic field under a constant flow of argon. The electron microscopy investigations allowed determining that the as-prepared nanowires were composed of self-assembled iron nanoparticles which were covered by a 3 nm thick oxide shell and separated from each other by a thin interface layer. Both these layers exhibited an amorphous or highly-disordered character which was traced by means of transmission electron microscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The thermal oxidation was carried out under a constant flow of argon which contained the traces of oxygen. The first stage of process was related to slow transformations of amorphous Fe and amorphous iron oxides into crystalline phases and disappearance of interfaces between iron nanoparticles forming the studied nanomaterial (range: 25-300 °C). After that, the crystalline iron core and iron oxide shell became oxidized and signals for different compositions of iron oxide sheath were observed (range: 300-800 °C) using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy. According to the thermal gravimetric analysis, the nanowires heated up to 800 °C under argon atmosphere gained 37% of mass with respect to their initial weight. The structure of the studied nanomaterial oxidized at 800 °C was mainly composed of α-Fe2O3 (∼ 93%). Moreover, iron nanowires treated above 600 °C lost their wire-like shape due to their shrinkage and collapse caused by the void coalescence.

Three meteorites -Bassikounou, Buzzard Coulee, and Zag -were studied with the use of the Mössbauer spectroscopy to assess how different experimental conditions, e.g. different statistics, velocity resolution and different ways of fitting the Mössbauer spectra could cause discrepancies regarding the percentages of spectral areas of main mineral phases (olivine, pyroxene, metallic phase and troilite) present in ordinary chondrites. The answer to this question is crucial for creation of a common database for a new method of classification of ordinary chondrites based on Mössbauer spectroscopy. Our results show that none of the above factors could significantly affect the percentage of spectral areas in the samples measured and the differences obtained with the use of those various methods of assessment were on the level of one percentage point. The final conclusion from this comparative study is that the results from different laboratories could be included to the same database.

SummaryThe main goal of this work is to study the structural and magnetic properties of iron nanowires and iron nanoparticles, which have been fabricated in almost the same processes. The only difference in the synthesis is an application of an external magnetic field in order to form the iron nanowires. Both nanomaterials have been examined by means of transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, X-ray diffractometry and Mössbauer spectrometry to determine their structures. Structural investigations confirm that obtained iron nanowires as well as nanoparticles reveal core–shell structures and they are composed of crystalline iron cores that are covered by amorphous or highly defected phases of iron and iron oxides. Magnetic properties have been measured using a vibrating sample magnetometer. The obtained values of coercivity, remanent magnetization, saturation magnetization as well as Curie temperature differ for both studied nanostructures. Higher values of magnetizations are observed for iron nanowires. At the same time, coercivity and Curie temperature are higher for iron nanoparticles.

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Abstract. The investigations of iron-containing phases existing in fl y ashes were performed using transmission Mössbauer spectrometry. The examined samples of fl y ashes were collected from different coal combustion systems, that is, stoker-fi red boiler in municipal heating plant and pulverized coal boiler in power plant. Several phases are identifi ed in the samples: iron oxides, paramagnetic aluminosilicate glass with Fe 3+ ions and Al 2 O 4 --type spinel with Fe 2+ ions. It was pointed out that proportions of contents of phases strongly depend not only on the combustion temperature but also on the way of ash collection.

Abstract. Several samples of dusts from steel and coke plants (collected mostly with electro fi lters) were subjected to the investigation of content of mineral phases in their particles. Additionally, sample of bog iron ore and metallurgical slurry was studied. Next, the magnetic susceptibility of all the samples was determined, and investigations of iron-containing phases were performed using transmission Mössbauer spectrometry. The values of mass-specifi c magnetic susceptibility  varied in a wide range: from 59 to above 7000 × 10 −8 m 3 kg −1 . The low values are determined for bog iron ore, metallurgical slurry, and coke dusts. The extremely high  was obtained for metallurgical dusts. The Mössbauer spectra and X-ray diffraction patterns point to the presence of the following phases containing iron: hematite and oxidized magnetite (in coke and metallurgical dusts as well as metallurgical slurry), traces of magnetite fi ne grains fraction (in metallurgical dusts), amorphous glassy silicates with paramagnetic Fe 3+ and Fe 2+ ions, traces of pyrrhotite (in coke dusts), -Fe and nonstoichiometric wüstite (in metallurgical slurry), as well as ferrihydrite nanoparticles (in bog iron ore). For individual samples of metallurgical dusts, the relative contributions of Fe 2+/3+ ions in octahedral B sites and Fe 2+ ions in tetrahedral A sites in magnetite spinel structure differs considerably.

Abstract. Raman spectroscopy as well as Mössbauer spectroscopy were applied in order to study the phase composition of iron nanowires and its changes, caused by annealing in a neutral atmosphere at several temperatures ranging from 200°C to 800°C. As-prepared nanowires were manufactured via a simple chemical reduction in an external magnetic fi eld. Both experimental techniques proved formation of the surface layer covered by crystalline iron oxides, with phase composition dependent on the annealing temperature (T a ). At higher T a , hematite was the dominant phase in the nanowires.

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