Simple and efficient synthesis of graphite nanocomposites with hydrophobic cobalt ferrite nanoparticles

Hydrophobic cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CoFe 2 O 4 ) (HCF NPs) were synthesized with the size of 14–27 nm by a simple chemical coprecipitation method in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant. Then the decoration of the surface of graphite powder with hydrophobic cobalt ferrite nanoparticles was carried out using the sonication method. The result of the sonication method revealed that hydrophobic CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles were attached to the graphite powder via shared hydrophobic interaction and caused in nanoscale CoFe 2 O 4 -graphite nanocomposites (HCFG). The broadband at 550 nm from the UV-Vis. spectroscopy confirmed the formation of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles. The functional groups and metal oxide peaks of the synthesized HCFG were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy. SEM, AFM, and TEM results established the surface morphology and size of the nanocomposites. The iron, oxygen, and carbon contents and the crystalline nature of the nanocomposites were confirmed using EDAX and XRD results. The magnetic measurement value of HCFG nanocomposites was 15 emu/g. This method offers a simple, fast, and low-cost method for the synthesis of hydrophobic cobalt ferrite-graphite nanocomposites.