Synthesis, and structural and morphological characterization of iron oxide-ion-exchange resin and -cellulose nanocomposites

The synthesis and the comparative structural and morphological study of iro n oxide nanoparticles in polystyrene-based ion-exchange resins and cellulos ics are reported. The synthesis of magnetite was performed under nitrogen a tmosphere by an irt situ method in the presence of the matrix itself. Scann ing and transmission electron microscopy measurements led to a detailed cha racterization of matrix morphology and of magnetic particle structure, size and morphology. The results show that the matrix influences the iron oxide particle size; the average size is about 7nm in the resins and 25nm in the celluloses. In the resins, particles are present inside the pores and as a ggregates on the surface of the resin beads, whereas in the cellulose they are present on the surface and in the swollen network of the microfibers co nstituting the single fibers. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.