PVA ferrogel (original) (raw)

Fe2.15Zn0.85O4-PEG/Carboxymethyl Cellulose/Polyvinyl Alcohol (Fe2.15Zn0.85O4-PEG/CMC/PVA) ferrogel has been fabricated via the freezing-thawing route. Meanwhile, the Fe2.15Zn0.85O4-PEG nanoparticle filler was synthesized by using the coprecipitation method. Investigations of the Fe2.15Zn0.85O4-PEG/CMC/PVA ferrogel were carried out by using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) instruments, Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectrometers to analyze the morphology of the magnetic filler, the nanostructural characteristic of the Fe2.15Zn0.85O4-PEG distribution in the Fe2.15Zn0.85O4-PEG/CMC/PVA ferrogel, and determine the optical properties of the sample through the obtained bandgap values, respectively. The distribution data of the Fe2.15Zn0.85O4-PEG magnetic nanoparticles was confirmed well by its morphological observation by using TEM instruments, which showed an average diameter value of around 10 nm. Thus, the Fe2.15Zn0.85O4-PEG nanoparticles were quite effectively and evenly distributed in the CMC/PVA hydrogel. Based on SAXS data analysis, the Fe2.15Zn0.85O4-PEG filler in the Fe2.15Zn0.85O4-PEG/CMC/PVA ferrogel had an average value of primary and secondary particles of ~ 3 and ~ 9 nm, respectively. Through UV-Vis analysis, the refractive index of the Fe2.15Zn0.85O4-PEG nanoparticles was around 1.9. This result has a good agreement with the previous report, which was in the range of 1.5 to 2.1. Furthermore, the increase in the bandgap of the Fe2.15Zn0.85O4-PEG nanoparticles was accompanied by an increase in the optical and electrical conductivity of the sample.