Optical, Structural and Surface Properties of Magnetite/Polycarbonate Nanocomposite

Magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in transparent insulating polymeric matrices have been a subject of great interest in area of magneto-optics, nanoelectronics and environmental remediation. In the present research, size effects of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on the optical, structural and surface properties of magnetite/polycarbonate nanocomposite have been investigated. Magnetite nanoparticles of different size were synthesized with optimized co-precipitation method in an external magnetic field. The morphology, structure, dispersion of nanoparticles, hydrophilicity and optical properties of magnetite/polycarbonate nanocomposite were characterized by SEM, XRD, contact angle measurement and UV/visible spectroscopy at room temperature. The samples that prepared with magnetite nanoparticles of different size exhibited magnetite nanoparticles size-dependent of hydrophilicity and optical properties, especially transparency at long visible and near IR wavelengths. The results can provide a simple inexpensive versatile technique for tuning optical and surface properties of magnetic nanocomposites via changing the size of dispersed magnetic nanoparticles.