In situ synthesis of plate-like Fe2O3 nanoparticles in porous cellulose films with obvious magnetic anisotropy

Nanocomposite cellulose films with obvious magnetic anisotropy have been prepared by in situ synthesis of plate-like Fe2O3 nanoparticles in the cellulose matrix. The influence of the concentrations of FeCl2 and FeCl3 solutions on the morphology and particle size of the synthesized Fe2O3 nanoparticles as well as on the properties of the composite films has been investigated. The Fe2O3 nanoparticles synthesized in the cellulose matrix was gamma-Fe2O3, and its morphology was plate-like with size about 48 nm and thickness about 9 nm, which was totally different from those reported works. The concentration of FeCl2 and FeCl3 solution has little influence on the particle size and morphology of the Fe2O3 nanoparticles, while the content of Fe2O3 nanoparticles increased with the increase of the concentration of the precursor solution, indicating that porous structured cellulose matrix could modulate the growth of inorganic nanoparticles. The unique morphology of the Fe2O3 nanoparticles endowed the composite films with obvious magnetic anisotropy, which would expand the applications of the cellulose based nanomaterials.