Effect of Template on Structural and Band Gap Behaviors of Magnetite Nanoparticles

Abstract

Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) were prepared via the coprecipitation-sonochemical route. Polyethylene-glycol as a template was employed with volume variations of magnetite/polyethylene-glycol of 1:0; 2:1; and 1:1. The structural and band gap characters of the samples were studied using XRD, SEM, FTIR spectrometer, and UV-Vis spectrometer. The data analysis presented that the magnetite formed spinel structure with particle size ranging from 20 to 23 nm. This result was confirmed by SEM characterization showing a particle size of lower than 25 nm in a spherical form. The FTIR spectra presented that the samples had vibrational peaks originating from the magnetite particles at wavenumbers in the range of 445 to 600 cm−1. Furthermore, the data of the UV-Vis characterization showed band gap values of 2.52-2.61 eV for respective samples. It can be concluded that the polyethylene-glycol was effective to produce the magnetite nanoparticles via the coprecipitation-sonochemical route.