In situ preparation of monodispersed Ag/polyaniline/Fe3O4 nanoparticles via heterogeneous nucleation

Acrylic acid and styrene were polymerized onto monodispersed Fe3O4 nanoparticles using a grafting copolymerization method. Aniline molecules were then bonded onto the Fe3O4 nanoparticles by electrostatic self-assembly and further polymerized to obtain uniform polyaniline/Fe3O4 (PANI/Fe3O4) nanoparticles (approximately 35 nm). Finally, monodispersed Ag/PANI/Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared by an in situ reduction reaction between emeraldine PANI and silver nitrate. Fourier transform infrared and UV-visible spectrometers and a transmission electron microscope were used to characterize both the chemical structure and the morphology of the resulting nanoparticles.