Synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles in hydrophobic styrene–divinylbenzene copolymer templates

Abstract Styrene–divinylbenzene copolymers were used as templates for magnetite nanoparticles without a previous chemical modification of polymer structure. Magnetite/hydrophobic polymer nanocomposites could be obtained only after ethanol treatment to reduce interfacial tension between aqueous solutions and polymer surface. Pore size distribution of the templates had a strong influence on the final nanoparticle size and magnetite content. The surface area, pore volume and pore average diameter of the nanocomposites had small changes in comparison to original polymers.