Low-temperature green route synthesis of Fe3O4-C nanocomposite using Olive Leaves Extract

Synthesis of carbon-based magnetic nanocomposite (Fe3O4-C) in the range of similar to 12.5 nm by thermal decomposition of iron precursor in an organic medium is reported. In this paper, magnetite phase of iron oxide nano particles (Fe3O4) covered with a thin carbonlayer was successfully synthesized at low temperature by green and easy reaction using solely Olive Leaves Extract (OLE). OLE was employed as reducing, stabilizing, and carbonaceous agents. Further, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray, UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopy were used to investigate the formation of magnetite (Fe3O4) in the final product. FESEM and HRTEM were also used to describe the morphology and reveal the formation of carbon structure on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Detailed magnetic properties and size distribution were investigated using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and Zetasizer analysis respectively.

Automated summary

This study reported the synthesis of Fe3O4-C nanocomposite through thermal decomposition of iron precursor in an organic medium, demonstrating successful synthesis at low temperature using Olive Leaves Extract. Various techniques such as X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray were used to investigate the formation process of the product, while FESEM and HRTEM were utilized to reveal the formation of carbon structure on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles.