Preparation of MWCNT-Fe₃O₄ Nanocomposites from Iron Sand Using Sonochemical Route

The composites of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles from iron sand were successfully prepared via the sonochemical route. In this experiment, the MWCNT-Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites were prepared with different compositions of MWCNT (0.01%, 0.02%, and 0.04%) with the constant composition of Fe₃O₄ particles. The characterizations were performed by means of X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) Spectrometer and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) integrated with Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX). The XRD data analysis showed that the Fe₃O₄ crystallize in spinel structure in nanometric size. Furthermore, the crystallinity of the samples tended to reduce by increasing the MWCNT compositions. The SEM images showed that Fe₃O₄ tend to agglomerate in nanometric size. The FTIR spectra detected the functional groups of Fe-O bonding that showed the existence of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺. In the composites, the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were physically mixed with the MWCNTs constructing a unique structure. The as prepared MWCNT-Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites have the potential for bio-applications.