Preparation and characterisation of magnetic Fe₃O₄/graphene oxide nanocomposites

Abstract

Magnetic Fe₃O₄/graphene oxide nanocomposites were synthesised by a simple hydrothermal method. The morphology and composition of the magnetic Fe₃O₄/graphene oxide nanocomposites were optimised and characterised by ultraviolet–visible spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectra, zeta-potential and scanning electron microscope. It was found that Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with the mean diameter of about 15–30 nm were firmly decorated on the surfaces of graphene oxide. The Fe₃O₄/graphene oxide nanocomposites presented an excellent colloidal stability over a wide range of pH. Furthermore, the Fe₃O₄/graphene oxide nanocomposites could be quickly separated from an aqueous solution with the application of an external magnetic field.

Keywords:

• Magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles
• Graphene oxide
• Hydrothermal method
• Colloidal stability
• Biomedical

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Science and Technology Support Program of China (no. 2013BAI03B01), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 61271119 and 61265006) and Hunan Provincial Innovation Foundation for Postgraduate.