Magnetite-graphene nanosheets (GNs)/poly(arylene ether nitrile) (PEN): Fabrication and characterization of a multifunctional nanocomposite film

Our main goals in this work were to fabricate and characterize a novel magnetic composite of graphene nanosheets and poly(arylene ether nitrile) (magnetite-GNs/PEN). Fabrication was achieved through two steps. First, covalent deposition of magnetite nanoparticles on the GNs surface in the presence of iron (III) chlorides and GNs in a solvothermal process resulted in the fabrication of the magnetite-GNs hybrids. Second, loading of the as-prepared hybrids over poly(arylene ether nitrile) (PEN) through solution-casting method afforded the magnetic composite (magnetite-GNs/PEN). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations indicated that magnetite nanopatarticles with the sizes of 30–50 nm evenly spread over the GNs surface via covalent bond, which was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) characterization and X-ray spectrometer (EDS). The mechanical properties and thermal stability of magnetite-GNs/PEN nanocomposites were significantly enhanced by incorporation of magnetite-GNs hybrids. Finally, improvement of the PEN properties by its loading with magnetite-GNs hybrids was established through our preliminary vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and rheological analyses.