Self-catalyzed surface grafting of Mn3O4 nanoparticles with polylactide and its magnetic properties

Magnetic properties of nanoparticles are size dependent and surface grafting of nanoparticles not only prevents their agglomeration but can also lead to effective domains separation. Present study deals with the synthesis of manganese oxide nanoparticles (< 5 nm) by microwave assisted solvothermal process and its grafting with poly L-lactic acid by a self-catalyzed ring opening polymerization of L-lactide. The Mn3O4 nanoparticles and Mn3O4/PLLA nanocomposite were characterized by many analytical techniques such as FT-IR, TEM, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, XRD, XPS, TGA and DSC etc. The magnetic properties of nanoparticles and nanocomposites were studied using VSM and SQUID showed marked shift in magnetic behavior of Mn3O4 nanoparticles which were super paramagnetic, on coating with PLLA.