Comparative study of ferromagnetic behaviour in bare and DDMAB-PMMA-PEG modified Manganese Ferrite (MnFe2O4) nanoparticles

Crystalline Manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) was prepared by chemical co-precipitation method. DDMAB (N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethylammonio)butyrate), PMMA (Poly (methyl methacrylate)) and PEG(Polyethylene glycol) were used as capping agents to stabilize the particles and prevent agglomeration. The characterization studies were conducted using various analystical techniques namely, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Particle Size Analysis (PSA). The average particle sizes of and for pristine and DDMAB-PMMA-PEG modified MnFe2O4 (DDMAB-PMMA-PEG-MF) were obtained by TEM analysis. The XRD results indicated that the synthesized NPs have cubic spinel structure of a ferrite with high crystallinity. Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDX), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), confirmed the presence of capping agents in both the samples. The surface morphology was accessed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrograph and the thermal stability of the same was evaluated by Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). The magnetic properties were demonstrated by Vibrating Sample Magnetometry (VSM) technique, which displayed ferromagnetic behaviour for both the samples even after capping it with DDMAB, PMMA and PEG.