Preparation and characterization of the graphene–carbon nanotube/CoFe2O4/polyaniline composite with reticular branch structures

A novel graphene–carbon nanotube (graphene–CNT)/CoFe2O4/polyaniline composite with reticular branch structures had been fabricated by in situ chemical polymerization method. The textured structures of the as-prepared composites were characterized by the fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The morphology was analyzed by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The electromagnetic properties were tested by vibrating sample magnetometer and four-probe conductivity tester. The results showed that the graphene–CNT/CoFe2O4/polyaniline composite had the unique reticular branch structures. When the mass ratio of the graphene–CNT/CoFe2O4 to aniline was 1:3, the magnetic saturation value of the composite achieved 39.6 emu g−1, and the conductivity reached 1.957 S cm−1. Based on the experimental results, a probable formation mechanism for the unique reticular branch structures was proposed.