Synthesis and characterization of an iron oxide poly(styrene-co-carboxybutylmaleimide) ferrimagnetic composite

In situ precipitation of iron oxide nanoparticles within the cross-linked styrene-(N-4-carboxybutylmaleimide) copolymer was carried out by an ion-exchange method. The resulting composite was studied by X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies. FTIR analysis showed the evolution of iron oxide deposition and the formation of sodium carboxylate due to the deposition treatment. In addition, XPS analysis indicated the complete oxidation of iron(II) to iron(III) by the presence of the representative peaks of iron oxide and iron oxyhydroxide. X-ray diffraction analysis was used to identify the inorganic phases. The results showed the formation of maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), and after several deposition cycles, goethite (α-FeOOH). The morphology and spatial distribution of iron oxide particles within the copolymer matrix were determined by transmission electron microscopy. The mean particle size of the iron oxide was of 14 nm as determined from wide-angle X-ray diffraction using the Scherrer equation. The evolution of magnetic properties with the number of deposition cycles was investigated by magnetometry at room temperature. The poly(styrene-co-N-4-carboxybutylmaleimide)/γ-Fe2O3/α-FeOOH/composite showed a soft ferrimagnetic behavior and, after the third deposition cycle, showed a saturation magnetization of 8.04 emu/g at 12 kOe and coercivity field of 51 Oe.