PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HEMATITE (Fe2O3) - HALLOYSITE NANOTUBES (HNTs) NANOCOMPOSITES

Abstract

Hematite (Fe₂O₃)-halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) nanocomposites were successfully synthesized via self-assembly of hematite (Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) building blocks. The nanocomposites were prepared via Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) routes. The as-prepared hematite/HNTs nanocomposites had been characterized by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The analysis of the results, indicates that the samples prepared via PVA routes with ferric nitrate nanohydrate [Fe(NO₃)3.9H₂O] shows better result in size distribution of nanoparticles. Other than that, based on the analysis of electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement, the use of PVA as capping agent in the preparation of hematite/HNTs nanocomposites improved the conductivity properties.