A novel mechanochemical synthesis of ferromagnetic Fe3Al nanoparticles and preparation of its polyaniline nanocomposite

Abstract

Iron aluminide Fe3Al nanostructures were synthesized by chemical reduction of iron(II) chloride via aluminum nanoparticles in the solid state. Aluminum nanoparticles (AlNPs) were prepared by a novel wire drawing method in the presence of lubricating oil. Chemical reduction of iron(II) salts in aqueous solution by metallic aluminum has a many mechanistic considerations. These mechanistic aspects were available by understanding the mech- anism of electron transfer reactions between metal complexes. Here the mechanochemical reaction between aluminum nanoparticles and crystalline iron(II) chloride occurred by inner sphere electron transfer mechanism. The products were characterized by IR, UV–Vis, XRD, FESEM, and VSM. The weight fraction of iron aluminide nanoparticles calculated by the Rietveld method. Quantitative XRD analysis show a weight fraction of Fe3Al 87% and unreacted metallic aluminum 13% respectively. The magnetic parameters of sample are obtained from the hysteresis loop and show a magnetic saturation (Ms = 135.223 emu g−1) and coercivity (Hc = 125.362 Oc) respectively. Polyaniline was synthesized by a mechanochemical reaction between aniline hydrochloride and potassium peroxydisulfate. Finally, ferromagnetic PANI/Fe3Al nanocomposite was prepared by the milling method in solid-state. The weight fractions of Fe3Al, Al and PANI in nanocomposite were calculated 3.30, 1.20 and 95.50% respectively. The electrical resistivity was meas