Precipitation synthesis and magnetic properties of self-assembled magnetite-chitosan nanostructures

This paper reports the synthesis and magnetic properties of unique magnetite-chitosan nanostructures synthesized by the chemical precipitation of magnetite nanoparticles in the presence of chitosan. The influence of varying synthesis parameters on the morphology of the magnetic composites is determined. Depending on the synthesis parameters, magnetite-chitosan nanostructures of spherical (9–18nm), rice-seed-like (75–290nm) and lumpy (75–150nm) shapes were obtained via self-assembly. Spherical nanostructures encapsulated by a 9–15nm chitosan layer were assembled as well. The prospective morphology of the nanostructures is combined with their excellent magnetic characteristics. It was found that magnetite-chitosan nanostructures are ferromagnetic and pseudo-single domain. Rice-seed-like nanostructures exhibited a coercivity of 140Oe and saturation magnetization of 56.7emu/g at 300K. However, a drop in the magnetic properties was observed for chitosan-coated spherical nanostructures due to the higher volume fraction of chitosan. •Magnetite-chitosan nanostructures are synthesized via self-assembly.•Different morphology can be obtained by adjusting the synthesis parameters.•An attractive combination of magnetic properties and morphology is obtained.•Magnetite-chitosan nanostructures are ferrimagnetic and pseudo-single domain.