Facile fabrication of core shell Fe3O4@polydopamine microspheres with unique features of magnetic control behavior and special wettability

Functional Fe3O4@polydopamine (Fe3O4@PDA) core shell composite microspheres with magnetic response and special wetting properties were successfully assembled utilizing the strong coordination interactions between these two versatile materials. The microstructures, morphologies, and chemical constitute of the synthesized Fe3O4 microspheres and Fe3O4@PDA core shell composite microspheres were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. It was demonstrated that the as-obtained product with designed functionality has favorable superhydrophobic and superparamagnetic properties, showing significant advantages in both magnetic control behavior and oil/water separation. Therefore, the study of Fe3O4@PDA in this perspective is of great importance for environmental friendly-related and transportation of fluid in micro-fluidic system applications.