Chemical passivation of unstable FeO — A Mössbauer study

Highly unstable FeO is chemically passivated by incorporating Cr3+ ions by solid solution technique and forming FexO∶Cr3+ single phase material. XRD, chemical analysis and Mossbauer spectroscopy are used for the characterization of the freshly prepared as well as samples aged in the desiccator for nearly three months. Optimum concentration range — 0.25 to 0.75 mole% — of Cr2O3 has been found to be necessary for stabilizing FexO∶Cr3+. x is determined by chemical analysis. Mossbauer and XRD studies have confirmed the chemical passivation of unstable FeO.