Electrodeposition of Fe₃O₄ layer from solution of Fe₂(SO₄)₃ with addition ethylene glycol

The electrodeposition of Fe₃O₄ layer from the solution Fe₂(SO₄)₃ with the addition of ethylene glycol on Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) substrate has been performed. The electrodeposition was carried out using a voltage of 5 volts for 120 seconds, with and without the addition of 2% wt ethylene glycol. Significant effects of temperature on the resulting the samples is observed when they are heated at 400 °C. Structural characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that all samples produce a layer of Fe₃O₄ with particle size less than 50 nanometers. The addition of ethylene glycol and the heating of the sample causes a shrinkage in particle size. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization shows that Fe₃O₄ layer resulting from the process of electrodeposition of Fe₂(SO₄)₃ without ethylene glycol, independent of whether the sample is heated or not, is uneven and buildup. Layer produced by the addition of ethylene glycol without heating produces spherical particles. On contrary, when the layer is heated the spherical particles transform to irregularly-shaped particles with smaller size.