A facile one-step synthesis of PTSA-doped tetraaniline nanostructure/magnetite nanoparticles via self-assembly method

Tetraaniline nanostructures/magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) have been prepared via in situ self-assembly method using ammonium persulphate as an oxidant in the presence of p-toluene sulphonic acid as a dopant as well a soft template. The effect of the concentration and molar ratio of p-toluene sulphonic acid to aniline on the morphology and size of the nanostructures, and the crystallinity, thermal stability and magnetic properties of the nanocomposites have been studied by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and vibrating sample magnetometry. The spectroscopic results indicated the interaction between the tetraaniline nanostructures and the Fe3O4 NPs. The microscopic results show that the Fe3O4 NPs were coated on tetraaniline nanostructures. The saturation magnetization values and the thermal stability of the nanocomposites were found to depend on the molar ratio of p-toluene sulphonic acid to aniline.