An easy synthesis of nanostructured magnetite-loaded functionalized carbon spheres and cobalt ferrite

An easy method in a solvothermal system has been developed to synthesize nanostructured magnetite (Fe₃O₄)-loaded functionalized carbon spheres (CSs) and cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄). Surface-tunable CSs loaded with iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles were prepared using an acetylferrocene Schiff base (OPF), whereas spinel cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) was synthesized via metal complexes of a ferrocenyl Schiff base with phenol moiety (Co-OPF). The formed composite powder was investigated using X-ray powder diffraction, Raman spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. It was found that most of the iron oxide nanoparticles were evenly distributed upon the surface of the CSs. Furthermore, the surface of the iron oxide-loaded CSs has large numbers of functional groups. Good saturation magnetization was achieved for the formed magnetic nanoparticles.