Formation of magnetic nanoscrolls and nanoribbons in iron oxide-decorated graphene oxide

In the present contribution, the formation of nanoscrolls after a hydrazine treatment in iron oxide-decorated graphene oxide was observed. After a HCl treatment, the nanoscrolls lead to the formation of nanoribbons. The proposed mechanism of nanoscroll formation includes the decoration onto the epoxy/hydroxyl moieties and the reduction of carboxyl and carbonyl groups at the end ot the graphene sheet that cause the sheet rolling. The nanoribbons form upon iron oxide dissolution and beaking of the iron-carbon bonds causing the sheet ripening. Both materials are superparamagnetic, with maximum saturation magnetization of 30 and 20 A.m².kg⁻¹ respectively, measured in the 10–400 K range by vibrating sample magnetometry. The formation of these structures seem to be observed, yet not described in other reports, suggesting the nanoscroll formation in FeO_x-GO could be a more general phenomenon.