Template synthesis, structure, and properties of magnetically controlled, large surface area Fe3O4/TiO2 adsorbents

We have developed a process for the preparation of magnetically controlled Fe3O4/TiO2 nanocomposites with increased specific surface areas and investigated the structural, magnetic, and adsorption properties of the nanocomposites. The use of block-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (Pluronic-123) as a template in the synthesis process was shown to lead to a considerable increase in specific surface area (to 320 m2/g). After heat treatment, the materials containing 0.3–0.5 g of TiO2 and 0.0007–0.7 g of Pluronic-123 per gram of magnetite had a specific saturation magnetization in the range 3.75 to 3.96 μT m3/kg and coercive field from 1.47 to 1.61 kA/m.