Initial Dynamic Susceptibility of Maghemite Nanoparticles Dispersed in Surface-Treated Polymeric Template

Magnetic nanocomposites based on maghemite nanoparticles supported (ex situ route) on styrene- divinilbenzene (Sty-DVB) copolymer templates were produced and characterized for their structure and morphology. The as-produced nanocomposites were further chemically-treated with different oxidant agents and surface-coated with stearic acid. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy data show that the incorporated nanoparticles are preserved despite the aggressive chemical treatments employed. From the dynamical susceptibility measurements performed on the nanocomposites, the values of the saturation magnetization (76 emu/g) and the effective magnetic anisotropy (1.7 × 10⁴ J/m³) were obtained, in excellent agreement with the values reported in the literature for maghemite. This finding strongly supports the preservation of the magnetic properties of the supported nanosized maghemite throughout the entire samples' processing.