Polyelectrolyte-modified inverse microemulsions and their use as templates for the formation of magnetite nanoparticles.

This paper is focused on the characterization of polyelectrolyte-modified inverse microemulsions and their use as templates for the synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles. It is shown that the cationic polyelectrolyte poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) of low molar mass can be incorporated into the individual inverse microemulsion droplets (L2 phase) consisting of heptanol, water, and an amphoteric surfactant with a sulfobetaine head group. Up to a polymer concentration of 20% by weight in the aqueous phase and for different molecular weights of the polymer, an isotropic phase still exists.