Facile fabrication of core–shell structured magnetic Fe₃O₄/cross-linked polyphosphazene nanocomposite particles with high stability

We herein report a facile approach to the fabrication of core–shell structured magnetic Fe₃O₄/poly(cyclotriphosphazene-co-4,4′-sulfonyldiphenol) nanocomposite particles via precipitation polymerization of comonomers hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene and 4,4′-sulfonyldiphenol in the presence of Fe₃O₄ nanopaticles. The morphology, composition, thermal property, and magnetic property of the magnetic nanocomposite particles were characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectra, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and vibrating sample magnetometer, respectively. Results indicated that the submicron-sized magnetic nanocomposite particles own core/shell structures, 410 °C of initial decomposition temperature under an air atmosphere, and 6.2 emu/g of saturation magnetization, which should make them have potential applications in biotechnology and catalyst supports. Furthermore, we also proposed a possible formation mechanism of these magnetic Fe₃O₄/PZS nanocomposite particles.