Magnetic properties of graphene oxide decorated with magnetite nanoparticles

The present work reports a study on the magnetic properties of graphene oxide decorated with magnetite nanoparticles (GO center dot Fe3O4), at room temperature. A total of ten samples were prepared via co-precipitation method, controlling the magnetite incorporation on the GO surface. Magnetic characterization was performed using a vibrating sample magnetometer. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were employed for structural investigation. All systems presented magnetisation loops that resemble a Langevin function at the high field region, but also have non-zero coercivity and remanent magnetisation. These features are attributed to the size distribution of the magnetic nanoparticles. A portion of the magnetite particles is small enough to present superparamagnetic behaviour, while the bigger ones are ferrimagnetic. Using the in-field dMR interaction-plots technique, it was observed that demagnetising interactions are predominant. Magnetic parameters like coercivity and remanent magnetisation, however, are mainly governed by average particle size, and not by such interactions.

Automated summary

This study investigates the magnetic properties of graphene oxide decorated with magnetite nanoparticles (GO•Fe3O4) at room temperature. The size distribution of the magnetic nanoparticles plays a significant role in the magnetic behavior, with smaller particles exhibiting superparamagnetic behavior and larger particles exhibiting ferrimagnetic behavior. The magnetic parameters, such as coercivity and remanent magnetisation, are mainly influenced by the average particle size rather than demagnetising interactions.