Processible nanomaterials with high conductivity and magnetizability. Preparation and properties of maghemite/polyaniline nanocomposite films

A versatile process employing anionic surfactants has been developed for th e preparation of processible nanocomposite films with electrical conductivi ty and magnetic susceptibility. Maghemite (g-Fe2O3) nanoclusters (similar t o 10 nm in size) are coated with 4-dodecyl- benzenesulfonic acid, and polya niline (PAn) chains are doped with 10-camphorsulfonic acid. The coated nano clusters and doped polymers are soluble in common solvents, and casting the solutions readily gives free-standing nanocomposite films with nanocluster contents as high as similar to 50 wt %. The g-Fe2O3/PAn nanocomposites sho w high conductivity (82-337 S cm(-1)) and magnetizability (up to similar to 35 emu/g g-Fe2O3).