Polystyrene (PS)/laponite composite nanoparticles were fabricated using a surfactant-free Pickering emulsion polymerization method, in which emulsions of styrene dispersed in water were stabilized by hydrophilic laponite modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. The PS/laponite nanoparticles, of which their surface was covered compactly by laponite clay platelets, were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis confirmed their chemical composition, crystallographic structure, and thermal properties and weight loss percentage of the laponite located on the surface of the PS particle, respectively. When an external electrical field was applied, the chain-like structure of the laponite coated nano-sized PS particle exhibiting electrorheological characteristics was observed by optical microscopy. The electrorheological performance of the bulk properties was also examined using a rotational rheometer equipped with a high voltage generator. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.