One-step facile fabrication of Ag/γ-Fe2O3 composite microspheres

Ag/γ-Fe2O3 composite microspheres were successfully prepared via a simple solvothermal reduction method under mild conditions. Electron and X-ray diffraction data revealed that these composites consisted of silver and maghemite. Through the optimization of processing conditions, Ag/γ-Fe2O3 composites with a spherical shape were successfully produced. The results from the transmission and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the composites were spherical with a diameter in the range of 200–300 nm. Magnetic measurements showed that the mixed microspheres exhibited a typical ferromagnetic behavior, a specific saturation magnetization of 56 emu/g and an intrinsic coercivity of 38 Oe at room temperature. The presence of Ag nanoparticles dispersed into γ-Fe2O3 microspheres was also confirmed by UV–Vis absorption. These composites with microspherical morphologies can be applied in a variety of areas, including catalysis, medicine, photonics, and new functional device assemblies.