Polyaniline/Fe3O4 nanocomposites synthesized under the direction of cationic surfactant

Polyaniline(PANi)/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites have been prepared via in situ chemical oxidative polymerization directed with cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The studies show that PANi can coat Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. CTAB can produce insoluble substance with initiator of polyreaction, and plays a very important role for the coating of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles by PANi. Many Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles are bald without being coated by PANi when CTAB is replaced by anionic surfactant, so anionic surfactant can not play the role of CTAB.