Mechanosynthesis of nanocrystalline fayalite, Fe2SiO4.

Nanostructured fayalite (α-Fe(2)SiO(4)) with a large volume fraction of interfaces is synthesized for the first time via single-step mechanosynthesis, starting from a 2α-Fe(2)O(3) + 2Fe + 3SiO(2) mixture. The nonequilibrium state of the as-prepared silicate is characterized by the presence of deformed polyhedra in the interface/surface regions of nanoparticles.