Control on the formation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on chemically reduced graphene oxide surfaces

Fe3O4 nanoparticles were generated on chemically reduced graphene oxide (CRG) surfaces through a controlled hydrothermal procedure. The as-synthesised nanoscaled Fe3O4/CRG composites were characterized complementarily using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. It was illustrated that the initial ratio of Fe2+/GO, the pH of reaction solution, and the hydrothermal reaction time all affect the morphology of the nanoscaled Fe3O4 in the composites. The electrical and magnetic characteristics of Fe3O4/CRG composite were studied systematically. The results indicate that the GO sheets were reduced by Fe (OH)(2) and their electronic conjugation states were restored readily during the hydrothermal process. This might be developed as a scalable route to prepare magnetic Fe3O4/CRG nanocomposites.