Preparation and characterisation of PPy/NanoGs/Fe3O4 conductive and magnetic nanocomposites

Nanocomposites composed of polypyrrole (PPy), graphite nanosheets (NanoGs), magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles, have been successfully synthesised with a two-step process. First, we prepared NanoGs/Fe₃O₄ powder via wet chemical co-precipitation method. Next, pyrrole was polymerised in the suspension of NanoGs/Fe₃O₄ and then PPy/NanoGs/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites were produced. The products were characterised by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, Thermogravimetric, conductivity and magnetisation analysis. The result showed that the conductivity of the PPy/NanoGs/Fe₃O₄ composites, compared with pure PPy, increased dramatically. And the saturation magnetisation of nanocomposites increased with the increase of the volume fraction of the Fe₃O₄ particles. In addition, according to the thermal gravimetric analysis, compared with PPy, nanocomposites exhibited enhanced thermal stability due to the introduction of NanoGs/Fe₃O_4. The PPy/NanoGs/Fe₃O₄ composites show potential applications in electric–magnetic shield materials.