Synthesis of Iron-Polyaniline Nanocomposites and the Effect of Emulsifier

The objective of this study is to evaluate the emulsifier role in the synthesis of Iron Polyaniline nanocomposite by in-situ oxidative polymerization of aniline and reduction of Iron ions into Fe nanoparticles. The polymerization of aniline was carried out in the presence of FeCl as oxidizing agent. During the reaction 3 aniline monomers undergo oxidation and form polyaniline (PANI) whereas the reduction of Fe ions result the +3 formation of Fe nanoparticles. Nano-sized Fe particles were prepared by controlled reduction of Iron precursor in presence of micro emulsion medium of two emulsifiers such as sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and the anionic surfactant, dioctyl sulosuccinate (AOT) and in absence of emulsifier. Micro emulsion solutions act as both emulsifier and dopant to obtain stable nanocomposite. In this method of synthesis, the effect of emulsifier in the size of particles is investigated. PANI-SDS-Fe and PANI-AOT -Fe nanocomposites are characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy and scanning microelectronic microscopy (SEM).