Control on the formation of Fe3O4nanoparticles on chemically reduced graphene oxide surfaces

Abstract

Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were generated on chemically reduced graphene oxide (CRG) surfaces through a controlled hydrothermal procedure. The as-synthesised nanoscaled Fe₃O₄/CRG composites were characterized complementarily using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. It was illustrated that the initial ratio of Fe²⁺/GO, the pH of reaction solution, and the hydrothermal reaction time all affect the morphology of the nanoscaled Fe₃O₄ in the composites. The electrical and magnetic characteristics of Fe₃O₄/CRG composite were studied systematically. The results indicate that the GO sheets were reduced by Fe(OH)₂ and their electronic conjugation states were restored readily during the hydrothermal process. This might be developed as a scalable route to prepare magnetic Fe₃O₄/CRG nanocomposites.