Sol-Gel/Gel Casting Nanoarchitectonics of Hybrid Fe2O3–ZnO/PS-PEG Nanocomposites and Their Optomagnetic Properties
Ali B. Abou Hammad, A. M. Mansour, Thoraya M. Elhelali, Amany M. El Nahrawy
Abstract
Abstract Polymer networks incorporated with iron and zinc oxide nanoparticles have superparamagnetic and electrical characteristics where it can be employed in a variety of significant applications. To achieve optimal distribution and connection of nanoparticles in various polymeric matrices, it is required to investigate their dispersion performance with varied contents and the impact on their physical characteristics. A controlled sol-gel method is used combined with gel casting to synthesize organic-inorganic nanocomposites of (ZnO) x (1 − x)Fe 2 O 3 loaded within a polystyrene-polyethylene glycol matrix. The structural and morphological assembly of the hydrogen bonds between the inorganic and organic parts is verified using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning/transmission electron microscope (SEM/TEM) for the synthesized nanocomposites. The existence of the Fe aggregates, Zn/Fe pairs, and organic molecules was also confirmed by FTIR spectra. Optical and magnetic properties were evaluated. The band gap, refractive index, optical dielectric constant, and optical electronegativity were extracted.