Structural, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of PMMA-Magnetite (Fe3O4) Composites: Role of Magneto-Conducting Filler Particles

The preparation and characterization of ultrafine superparamagnetic Fe3O4 (magnetite) nanoparticles and their composites with the PMMA polymer matrix are described. The cubic structure with space group (Fd 3 m) of the nanofiller particle Fe3O4 is revealed by x-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to examine the microstructure and elemental compositions of PMMA-Fe(3)O(4)polymer composites. The interaction of the filler particles with the characteristic functional group of the polymer PMMA was detected using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). UV-spectroscopy studies revealed that PMMA-Fe(3)O(4)nanocomposite films have tunable energy band gap properties, with the band gap decreasing as the magnetite filler particles (Fe3O4) in the polymer matrix increased. Magnetic measurements revealed the superparamagnetic nature of the Fe(3)O(4)nanoparticles at room temperature, which was also found to be present in the nanocomposites. These nanocomposites were found to be ferrimagnetic at low temperatures (5 K) similar to that of the nanoparticles (Fe3O4). The blocking temperature (TB) of the nanocomposites was found to increase with the superparamagnetic Fe(3)O(4)nanoparticle content, while the saturation magnetization (Ms) of the polymer nanocomposites decreased consistently. The Ms value was also estimated using TGA data, and the Ms values of different nanoparticles and nanocomposites calculated via TGA correlates with those determined from VSM analysis.

Automated summary

This article presents the preparation and characterization of ultrafine superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles and their composites with the PMMA polymer matrix. The nanofiller particle Fe3O4 is found to have a cubic structure with the space group (Fd 3 m) based on X-ray diffraction studies. The microstructure and elemental compositions of PMMA-Fe(3)O(4) polymer composites are examined using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The interaction between the filler particles and the functional group of the polymer PMMA is detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. UV-spectroscopy studies reveal that PMMA-Fe(3)O(4) nanocomposite films exhibit tunable energy band gap properties.