Preparation and characterization study of γ-Fe2O3/carbon composite nanofibers: electrospinning of composite fibers using PVP and iron nitrate as precursors.

Abstract

A γ-Fe2O3/carbon nanofiber composite was prepared by electrospinning a mixed solution of iron nitrate nonahydrate (Fe(NO3)3·9H2O) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) with subsequent treatment under an Ar atmosphere. A morphology study of the γ-Fe2O3/carbon nanofiber composite using FE-SEM, TEM, and AFM techniques confirms the formation of randomly oriented carbon fibers that include γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles, along with an agglomeration in the fibrous environment and surface roughness of the fibers. Structural analysis from the XRD patterns showed that the synthesized sample was ferric oxide having a gamma phase tetragonal crystal structure and amorphous behavior of carbon. FT-IR spectroscopy further demonstrated the presence of functional groups corresponding to γ-Fe2O3 and carbon in the γ-Fe2O3/C structure. DRS spectra of the γ-Fe2O3/C fibers indicate absorption peaks related to γ-Fe2O3 and carbon in the γ-Fe2O3/carbon composite. In view of the magnetic properties, the composite nanofibers showed a high saturation magnetization Ms of 53.55 emu g-1.