Synthesis and characterization of Fe3O4/SiO2 composite with in-situ method: TEOS as SiO2 NPs precursor

The aim study, Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ composites have been synthesized through two stages; first, the synthesis of Fe₃O₄ particles from iron sand material (from Lumajang area, in Indonesia); second, the synthesis of Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ using the in-situ method by mixing Fe3O4 nanoparticles with ammonia, ethanol, and TEOS (as precursor SiO₂ Nanoparticles) in one pot as a chemical reaction site. The Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ composites were then characterized using XRD and FTIR, VSM and TEM. Characterization results showed that the phase structure of the Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ composite was successfully formed. The findings are supported by the functional group vibration data on FTIR, and the identified absorption pattern has Fe-O-Fe and Si-O-Si bonds which states that the surface modification of Fe₃O₄ has been successfully carried out using SiO₂. The VSM test results showed that the magnetization saturation of Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ composites was 18 emus/g and based on the TEM test results it was seen that Fe₃O₄ particles were coated by SiO₂ particles with Fe₃O₄/SiO2 particle size of ∼ 100 nm.