Magnetic behavior of reduced graphene oxide/metal nanocomposites

Abstract

The dispersion of metal nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets potentially provides a new way to develop novel catalytic, magnetic, adsorbing, and electrode materials. In this work, we report the structural and magnetic properties of RGO/metal (Bi, Pt, Ni, and Pt-Ni) nanocomposites. Such nanocomposites are successfully synthesized by a facile in situ co-reduction route. The structure, composition, and morphology of the synthesized materials are systematically investigated by X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer , and high resolution transmission electronic microscopy. The M–H curve and zero-field-cooled and field-cooled data for RGO, RGO/Ni, and RGO/Pt-Ni nanocomposites exhibit ferromagnetic behaviour. RGO/Pt nanocomposite shows diamagnetic, while RGO/Bi nanocomposite shows lower magnetization compared to that of RGO. Detailed magnetic studies on these nanocomposites and its correlation with microstructural features are presented here.