ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Facile microwave-assisted preparation of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles supported on carbonized cellulose nanocrystals derived from sugarcane bagasse

Emmanuel Mkumbuzi and Werner E. van Zyl

School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

E-mail: vanzylw@ukzn.ac.za

Received: 13 October 2023  Accepted: 16 December 2023

Abstract:

Microwave energy is an efficient form of energy used to speed up the synthesis of nanoparticles. Herein, we report the use of an unmodified domestic microwave oven to prepare magnetic spherical Fe₃O₄ (magnetite) nanoparticles (IONPs) supported on carbonized cellulose nanocrystals, forming a nanocomposite, in an expeditious and facile one-step reaction. This was achieved using the readily available precursors of FeCl₃ as an iron source, and sugarcane bagasse, using activated charcoal as a microwave absorber. The nanocomposite was characterized using Raman spectroscopy which suggested a degree of crystallinity based on a G/D ratio of 1.25. The morphology of the Fe₃O₄/carbonized cellulose nanocrystal nanocomposite was characterized as spherical metallic nanoparticles supported on carbonized cellulose nanocrystals using Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), SEM, and EDX, while the identity of the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles was confirmed with powder XRD.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords: Cellulose nanocrystals; Iron oxide nanoparticles; Microwave-assisted carbonisation; Sugarcane bagasse; Nanocomposite

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-023-03282-5

Chemical Papers 78 (5) 2933–2941 (2024)