Magnetic and Thermal Properties of Nanomaterials Based on Highly Branched Ferrocene-Containing Polymers

Abstract

New magnetic nanomaterials with magnetization up to 32 Gs·cm3/g were synthesized from highly branched ferrocene-containing polymers by thermal structural transformations in a field of 2.5 kOe. The structure and properties of the prepared polymers were studied by IR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermogravimetric analyses. According to IR spectroscopy the content of 1,3,5-substituted benzene rings in the ferrocene-containing polymer increases at 500°C. X-ray diffraction study showed that iron in such a sample is present exclusively in the form of Fe3O4 magnetite. As the heating temperature increased to 600°C, the composition of the samples became more complex: along with magnetite they contain cementite Fe3C and wustite FeO.97O. The magnetization of the ferrocene-containing polymer depends on the synthesis and heat treatment temperature. For a sample synthesized at 140°C the formation of a magnetically ordered phase begins at 500°C, and at 800°C the magnetization reaches a maximum value of 32 Gs·cm3/g. The average size of magnetic particles according to TEM analysis was 8-26 nm. The principal possibility of controlling the size and composition of the nanoparticles, as well as their magnetization depending on the conditions of production and the temperature of polymer structuring is shown. The obtained results provide a good basis for the directed synthesis of magnetic ferrocene-containing polymers with preset characteristics.