Single‐Crystal Dendritic Micro‐Pines of Magnetic α‐Fe₂O₃: Large‐Scale Synthesis, Formation Mechanism, and Properties

Abstract

Fractal hematite dendrites with structures resembling pine trees (see picture) were obtained by hydrothermal treatment of K3[Fe(CN)6]. They are formed by a novel process in which fast growth along six crystallographically equivalent directions forms dendritic or snowflakelike single-crystal structures, which differs from the mechanisms reported for other fractal structures.