Template synthesis technique was employed to prepare magnetic polyaniline (PANI)/Fe3O4 composite microtubes using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane as template. Magnetic microtubes were obtained through in situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the microchannels of template. A tubular structure was formed once when aniline was preferentially adsorbed and polymerized on the Surface of channels wall. Electron microscope images demonstrated that the shape and size of guest (PANI/Fe3O4 composite microtubes) were strictly depended on those of the host (template channels). Magnetic force microscopy images showed that the PANI/Fe3O4 composite microtubes possessed reasonable magnetism and the magnetism distribution of microtubes was regular as distribution of template channels. Moreover, the magnetic response and oriented arrangement of PANI/Fe3O4 microtubes were fulfilled in the magnetic field. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 111: 963-969, 2009