Preparation and characterization of polyaniline/nano-Fe3O4 composites via a novel Pickering emulsion route

Polyaniline/nano-Fe3O4 composites were prepared by a novel solids-stabilized emulsion (Pickering emulsion) route for the first time. The products were characterized by SEM, XRD, FTIR spectra and particle size analyzer. Sphere-like morphology and sub-micrometer fibers of polyaniline/nano-Fe3O4 composites were synthesized in a toluene/water emulsion stabilized by Fe3O4 nanoparticles. It was found that the morphology of the resulting PANI/nano-Fe3O4 composites depended not only on the volume ratio of toluene to water (R), but also the amount of Fe3O4 in the reaction system. A possible mechanism for the formation of the different morphologic composites has been proposed. The room-temperature conductivity of PANI/nano-Fe3O4 composites also depended not only on the volume ratio of toluene to water (R), but also the amount of Fe3O4 in the reaction system. In addition, it was found that the magnetization under applied magnetic field for the as prepared the PANI/nano-Fe3O4 composites exhibited a clear hysteretic behavior, and both MS and HC for the PANI/nano-Fe3O4 composites exhibited a decrease with decreasing the nano-Fe3O4 content.