Synthesis and properties of magnetite/poly (aniline‐co‐8‐amino‐2‐naphthalenesulfonic acid) (SPAN) nanocomposites

Composites were prepared by incorporating magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles into the matrix of a sulfonated polyaniline (SPAN) poly(aniline‐co‐8‐amino‐2‐naphthalenesulfonic acid) PANSA] through chemical oxidative polymerization of a mixture of aniline and 8‐amino‐2‐naphthalenesulfonic acid in the presence of magnetite nanoparticles. The composite, magnetite/SPAN(PANSA) was characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis (EA), Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectra, UV‐vis spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), conductivity and magnetic properties measurements. TEM image shows that magnetite nanoparticles were finely distributed into the SPAN matrix. XRD pattern of the nanocomposite reveals the presence of additional crystalline order through the appearance of a sharp peak at ～43° and 71°. Conductivity of the nanocomposite (0.23 S/cm) is much higher than pristine copolymer (1.97 × 10^?2 S/cm). The results of FT‐IR and UV‐visible spectroscopy reveal the presence of molecular level interactions between SO groups in SPAN and magnetite nanoparticles in the composite. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.