One-step synthesis, characterization and properties of novel hybrid electromagnetic nanomaterials based on polydiphenylamine and Co–Fe particles in the absence and presence of single-walled carbon nanotubes

A one-step preparation method for hybrid electromagnetic nanomaterials based on polydiphenylamine (PDPA) and bimetallic Co–Fe particles in the absence and presence of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) was proposed. During IR heating of PDPA in the presence of Co(ii) and Fe(iii) salts in an inert atmosphere at T = 450–600 °C, the polycondensation of diphenylamine (DPA) oligomers and dehydrogenation of phenyleneamine units of the polymer with the formation of C[double bond, length as m-dash]N bonds and reduction of metals by evolved hydrogen with the formation of bimetallic Co–Fe particles dispersed in a polymer matrix occur simultaneously. When carbon nanotubes are introduced into the reaction system, a nanocomposite material is formed, in which bimetallic Co–Fe particles immobilized on SWCNT are distributed in the matrix of the polymer. According to XRD data, reflection peaks of bimetallic Co–Fe particles at diffraction scattering angles 2θ = 69.04° and 106.5° correspond to a solid solution based on the fcc-Co crystal lattice. According to SEM and TEM data, a mixture of particles with sizes of 8–30 nm and 400–800 nm (Co–Fe/PDPA) and 23–50 nm and 400–1100 nm (Co–Fe/SWCNT/PDPA) is formed in the nanocomposites. The obtained multifunctional Co–Fe/PDPA and Co–Fe/SWCNT/PDPA nanomaterials demonstrate good thermal, electrical and magnetic properties. The saturation magnetization of the nanomaterials is M(S) = 14.99–31.32 emu g(−1) (Co–Fe/PDPA) and M(S) = 29.48–48.84 emu g(−1) (Co–Fe/SWCNT/PDPA). The electrical conductivity of the nanomaterials reaches 3.5 × 10(−3) S cm(−1) (Co–Fe/PDPA) and 1.3 S cm(−1) (Co–Fe/SWCNT/PDPA). In an inert medium, at 1000 °C the residue is 71–77%.