Scientific Reports (Sep 2024)

Facile microwave synthesis of various-shaped magnetite/ reduced graphene oxide heterostructures and their magnetization properties

  • Abdallah F. Zedan,
  • Sherif Moussa,
  • M. Samy El-Shall

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71537-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Heterostructures of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets are very common composite materials for different applications such as catalysis, energy storage, and biomedicine. Developing methods for the facile control of the size and shape of both freestanding Fe3O4 nanoparticles and those anchored onto RGO sheets is in demand. Herein, we report on the rapid and facile microwave synthesis (MWS) of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and Fe3O4/RGO with various sizes and shapes using the oleylamine (OAm)/oleic acid (OAc) ligand pair. The solvothermal synthesis using microwave irradiation (MWI) resulted in the concurrent conversion of graphene oxide (GO) into RGO and the in-situ formation of various-shaped Fe3O4 on RGO sheets. Freestanding Fe3O4 nanoparticles of various shapes were prepared using MWS for comparison. The morphological, structural, and surface properties of the samples were studied using different characterization techniques. The magnetization properties of the prepared samples were determined using a vibrating sample magnetometer. Various-shaped standalone and RGO-supported Fe3O4 nanoparticles including nanospheres, nanocubes, and nanotriangles were synthesized via MWI at 1000 W for 20 min by changing the ratios of the iron precursor and the OAm/OAc ligand pair. Interestingly, the MWI using OAm/OAc ligand pair of a molar ratio of 3:4 resulted in the in-situ formation of large hexagonal Fe3O4/RGO. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results confirm the crystallinity and spinel structure of the prepared Fe3O4 samples and prove the concurrent conversion of GO into RGO with assemblies of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The magnetization measurements further emphasized the role of size and shape in affecting the magnetic properties of Fe3O4 and Fe3O4/RGO heterostructures. The results identify the qualities of the prepared samples and prove the MWS as a facile one-pot method for the preparation of Fe3O4 and Fe3O4/RGO heterostructures.

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