The water phase (2 mL) was an aqueous dispersion of varying wt% (0.025 and 0.075) of Sm2S3, while the oil phase (2 mL) was toluene-containing aniline. To produce a Pickering emulsion, the two phases were combined and homogenised for 2 min at 500 rpm using a homogenizer. The prepared emulsion was submerged in ice water for about half an hour. Similarly, in separate systems, a certain amount of potassium persulfate (potassium persulfate/aniline = 1 : 1) was immersed in a 1 mol L−1 HCl solution and left in an ice bath for half an hour. Thereafter, potassium persulfate solution was added subsequently in to the emulsion. To assure the complete polymerization of aniline, the mixture was stirred at an ice water bath for 6 h. The necessary product was separated using centrifugation at a speed of 4000 rpm for 15 min.
For comparison, another set of polymerisation was carried out by the direct addition of acidic potassium persulfate to aniline instead of the introduction of Sm2S3-stabilised pickering emulsion.
For comparison, another set of polymerisation was carried out by the direct addition of acidic potassium persulfate to aniline instead of the introduction of Sm2S3-stabilised pickering emulsion.
