Effect of corrosion methods on morphology of superparamagnetic and flexible iron oxide nanobrushes

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanobrushes with different morphologies prepared using an anodic aluminum oxide Template (AAO) template. Flexible polymers and the precursor iron oxide nanoparticles coated with polyacrylic acid (PAA) were assembled into iron oxide nanobrushes. The iron oxide nanobrushes with different morphologies were obtained by etching the alumina template with different degrees. The morphologies of the iron oxide nanobrush arrays were characterized with field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The hysteresis loops of the iron oxide nanobrush arrays were measured using vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), where the coercivity and remanence are almost zero, to achieve a typical superparamagnetism. The contact angle test shows that the iron oxide nanobrushes have hydrophilicity. These superparamagnetic and flexible iron oxide nanobrushes might be used in self-cleaning surfaces and sensors driven by a magnetic field.