Polyaniline/Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposite prepared by ultrasonic irradiation

Ultrasonic irradiation is employed to assist the chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline in the presence of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in order to prepare a polyaniline (PANI)/Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposite. In the chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline in the initially neutral medium, the optimum molar ratio of the oxidant ammonium persulfate to the monomer aniline is 2:1. The prepared PANI is in the emeraldine form and is doped by sulfate anions. Fe3O4 particles are encapsulated by PANI and dispersed well in PANI. Fe3O4 increases the doping level and decreases the crystallinity of PANI. The PANI/Fe3O4 nanocomposite possesses conductivity and magnetic properties. Increasing the Fe3O4 content increases the magnetization of the PANI/Fe3O4 composite but decreases its conductivity. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.