Synthesis and characterization of polypropiolate sodium (PPNa)–Fe3O4 nanocomposite

Polypropiolate sodium (PPNa)–Fe3O4 nanocomposites were successfully synthesized by the precipitation of Fe3O4 in the presence of sodium polypropiolate and followed by reflux route. Structural, morphological, electrical and magnetic properties evaluation of the nanocomposite were performed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), vibrating scanning magnetometry (VSM) and conductivity measurements. Crystalline phase was identified as magnetite with an average crystallite size of 7 ± 3 nm as estimated from X-ray line profile fitting. Particle size estimated from TEM, by log-normal fitting, is ∼9 ± 1 nm. FT-IR analysis shows that the binding of PPNa on the surface of iron oxide is through bidentate linkage of carboxyl group. TGA analysis showed the presence of 20% PPNa around 80% magnetic core (Fe3O4)…PPNa–Fe3O4 nanocomposite show superparamagnetic characteristics at room temperature. It is found that the a.c. conductivity of the nanocomposites obeys the well-known power law of frequency in which it also depends on temperature. Additionally, its d.c. conductivity showed that two operating regions of the activation energy. Both real and imaginary parts of either permittivity exhibit almost the same attitudes which are the indication of the same ability in the stored energy, and dissipation of energy within the PPNa and PPNa–Fe3O4 nanocomposites.

• Polypropiolate sodium (PPNa)–Fe3O4 nanocomposite was successfully synthesized by reflux route.
• FT-IR, TGA and TEM analyses showed that the presence of PPNa onto the surface of Fe3O4 NP's.
• Magnetization measurements revealed that (PPNa)–Fe3O4 nanocomposite has superparamagnetic properties at room temperature.
• Magnetic core size, particle size and crystallite size are coinciding with each other.
• It is pointed out that the a.c. conductivity of the nanocomposite studied here obeys the well-known power law of frequency in which it also varies with temperatures.