Preparation and characterization of graphene-based magnetic hybrid nanocomposite

Graphene-based magnetic hybrid nanocomposite has the advantage of exhibiting better performance as platform or supporting materials to develop novel properties of composite by increasing selectivity of the targeted adsorbate. The hybrid nanomaterial was prepared by mixing and hydrolyzing iron (II) and iron (III) salt precursors in the presence of graphene oxide (GO) dispersion through co-precipitation method followed by in situ chemical reduction of GO. The effect of weight loading ratio of Fe to GO (4:1, 2.5:1, 1:1 and 1:4) on structural properties of the hybrid nanomaterials was investigated. The presence of characteristic peaks in FTIR spectra indicated that GO has been successfully oxidized from graphite while the decrease in oxygenated functional groups and peaks intensity evidenced the formation of hybrid nanomaterials through the subsequent reduction process. The presence of characteristic peaks in XRD pattern denoted that magnetite nanoparticles disappeared at higher loading of GO. TEM micrograph showed that the best distribution of iron oxide particles on the surface of hybrid nanomaterial occurred when the loading ratio of Fe to GO was fixed at 2:5 to 1. The reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets in the hybrid materials showed less wrinkled sheet-like structure compared to GO due to exfoliation and reduction process during the synthesis. The layered morphology of GO degrades at higher concentrations of iron oxide