Synthesis and characterization of polyaniline nanoparticles in the presence of magnetic field and samarium chloride

A new and economical method of preparing polyaniline (PANI) nanoparticles will be introduced in this article. Compared with conventional methods, this method is much more simple and convenient. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) shows that the diameter of particles are between 30 and 50 nm, which is in good agreement with the results of a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Polyaniline/SmCl3/Bp, polyaniline/SmCl3 and polyaniline/HCl were prepared in a solution containing 1.0 mol dm−3 aniline, 1.0 mol dm−3 HCl with and without 0.5 mol dm−3 SmCl3, in the presence and in the absence of a magnetic field, respectively. Their conductivity, UV–vis spectra, FTIR spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were investigated. Changes in UV–vis and FTIR spectra indicate a strong interaction between Samarium ions (SmCl3) and polyaniline chains. The conductivity of PANI depends on magnetization and concentration of Sm3+. Polyaniline/SmCl3/Bp has the higher degree of crystallinity than that of polyaniline/HCl.