Preparation and characterization study of γ-Fe2O3/carbon composite nanofibers: electrospinning of composite fibers using PVP and iron nitrate as precursors

Abstract

A γ-Fe₂O₃/carbon nanofiber composite was prepared by electrospinning a mixed solution of iron nitrate nonahydrate (Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) with subsequent treatment under an Ar atmosphere. A morphology study of the γ-Fe₂O₃/carbon nanofiber composite using FE-SEM, TEM, and AFM techniques confirms the formation of randomly oriented carbon fibers that include γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles, along with an agglomeration in the fibrous environment and surface roughness of the fibers. Structural analysis from the XRD patterns showed that the synthesized sample was ferric oxide having a gamma phase tetragonal crystal structure and amorphous behavior of carbon. FT-IR spectroscopy further demonstrated the presence of functional groups corresponding to γ-Fe₂O₃ and carbon in the γ-Fe₂O₃/C structure. DRS spectra of the γ-Fe₂O₃/C fibers indicate absorption peaks related to γ-Fe₂O₃ and carbon in the γ-Fe₂O₃/carbon composite. In view of the magnetic properties, the composite nanofibers showed a high saturation magnetization M_s of 53.55 emu g⁻¹.