A facile synthesis of flower-like α-Fe2O3/Cu nanocomposites and their magnetic properties

• Novel flower-like α-Fe2O3/Cu nanocomposites have been successfully prepared.
• A facile direct subsidence loading method has been used.
• The size of loaded copper nanoparticles is about 100 nm.
• Saturated magnetization values can be controlled which decreased from 0.33 to 0.09 emu/g.

Novel flower-like α-Fe2O3/Cu nanocomposites were prepared by a facile, direct subsidence loading method. The composition and morphology of the obtained samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The morphology and structure of such novel products strongly depended on the reaction temperature and the amount of iron oxide. The size of copper nanoparticles which loaded on the α-Fe2O3 flower petals was ca. 100 nm. Room temperature magnetic measurement of the flower-like nanocomposites demonstrated its ferromagnetic properties and the saturation magnetization (Ms) decreased from 0.33 to 0.09 emu/g. The results showed a potential application in ferrofluids and other related electromagnetism devices.

Novel flower-like α-Fe2O3/Cu nanocomposites were prepared by a facile, direct subsidence loading method. Such novel flower-like nanocomposites demonstrated fine ferromagnetic properties and the saturation magnetization (Ms) could be changed by controlling the amount of iron oxide.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide