This work reported a facile synthetic approach to synthesise core–shell Fe₃O₄/SiO₂/polypyrrole composite nanoparticles with the superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles as the inner core. The core–shell Fe₃O₄/SiO₂/polypyrrole composite nanoparticles were prepared through a three-step approach involving co-precipitation for the synthesis of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, Stöber method for SiO₂ intermediate layer coating and solvothermal methods for polypyrrole shell. The as-prepared nanoparticles were characterised using transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analyses and vibration sample magnetometer. The particle size of the inner core Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles was found to be 15 ± 3 nm, and the thicknesses of the SiO₂ shell and polypyrrole shell were ∼2.5 and ∼5 nm, respectively. From Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles to Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ and then to Fe₃O₄/SiO₂/polypyrrole composite nanoparticles, the magnetic saturation gradually decreases from 67 to 34 emu/g, then dropped to 7 emu/g. The as-prepared Fe₃O₄/SiO₂/polypyrrole composite nanoparticles showed potential applications in drug and gene delivery systems.

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Synthesis, characterisation, and evaluation of core–shell Fe₃O₄/SiO₂/polypyrrole composite nanoparticles

References

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Synthesis, characterisation, and evaluation of core–shell Fe3O4/SiO2/polypyrrole composite nanoparticles

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Synthesis, characterisation, and evaluation of core–shell Fe₃O₄/SiO₂/polypyrrole composite nanoparticles