Monodisperse magnetizable silica composite particles from heteroaggregate of carboxylic polystyrene latex and Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles

Monodisperse magnetizable silica composite particles were prepared from heteroaggregates of carboxylic polystyrene latex and Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles. It was found that the heteroaggregation of the carboxylic latex and Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles is dependent on the pH of the solution. At low pH value (pH = 2-4), the aggregation proceeds effectively due to opposite charges on the surfaces of the latex and the magnetic nanoparticles. At high pH value (pH>8), no aggregation was observed due to the negative charge on both the surface of the latex and the magnetic nanoparticles. The heteroaggregate of the latex and magnetic nanoparticles was found to be stable in a wide range of pH values, due to the existence of coordination interactions at the interface of the latex and magnetic nanoparticles. After silica layer coating on the heteroaggregate by the Stöber process and removal of the latex by calcination, hollow monodisperse magnetizable silica composite particles are obtained.