Polyaniline–LiNi ferrite core–shell composite: Preparation, characterization and properties

Polyaniline (PANI)–LiNi ferrite composite with the magnetic behavior was prepared by in situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of LiNi ferrite particles. The structure, morphologies and properties of samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis absorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results of TGA, FTIR and UV–vis spectra indicated that LiNi ferrite particles improved the thermal stability of composite, and there were interactions between ferrite particles and PANI. TEM study showed that composite presented the core-shell structure. The composite under applied magnetic field exhibited the hysteretic loops of the ferromagnetic behavior, such as high saturation magnetization (Ms = 9.7 emu/g) and coercivity (Hc = 128.7 Oe).