Fabrication and characterization of nanostructured conducting polymer films containing magnetic nanoparticles

In this study, the layer-by-layer technique is used to deposit nanostructured films exhibiting electrical conductivity and magnetic behavior, from poly(o-ethoxyaniline) (POEA), sulfonated polystyrene (PSS) and positively-charged maghemite nanoparticles. In order to incorporate the nanoparticles into the films, maghemite nanoparticles, in the form of magnetic fluid, were added to POEA solutions, and the resulting suspensions were used for film deposition. UV–Vis spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy images reveal that POEA remains doped in the films, even in the presence of the maghemite nanoparticles, and its typical globular morphology is also present. Electrical measurements show that a POEA/PSS film prepared from POEA solution containing 800 µL of the magnetic fluid exhibits a similar conductivity to that of the control film and, additionally, magnetic measurements indicated that nanosized maghemite phase was incorporated within the polymeric film.