Preparation and characterization of core–shell polyaniline–polystyrene sulfonate@Fe3O4 nanoparticles

A synthetic route for preparing novel PANI–PSS@Fe3O4 nanoparticles with both conductive and magnetic properties was demonstrated. The approach employed involves the following sequence of procedures: surface modification of Fe3O4 particles using a surfactant-like molecule of (2-bromo-2-methylpropanoate)octylphosphonic acid (Br-MPOP), surface-initiated polymerization of styrene from the terminal bromide on the surface-bonded Br-MPOP, sulfonation of polystyrene chains and template-guided oxidative polymerization of aniline. This new route ensures that each core–shell particle contains only a single magnetic particle, and the polymer shell evenly encapsulates the core. The thus-prepared materials were characterized by various methods, including TEM, TGA, IR, UV/vis, PPMS and conductivity measurement methods.