Electrodeposition of composite iron oxide–poly(allylamine hydrochloride) films

New method has been developed for the fabrication of γ-Fe2O3 films and composites containing γ-Fe2O3 particles in the poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) matrix. The proposed method is based on the electrosynthesis of γ-Fe2O3 and electrodeposition of cationic PAH macromolecules. Cathodic deposits of various thicknesses in the range of up to several microns were obtained on Pt and graphite substrates. Obtained films were studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis and atomic force microscopy. dc and ac magnetic measurements performed in the temperature range of 2–298 K revealed the superparamagneric behavior of the films. Magnetic properties can be varied by the variation of film composition.