Synthesis and Properties of Polyaniline/Gold Composites

Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Atlanta, GA 30332400 USA The preparation, characterization and sizedependence of polyaniline (PANI) gold nano-composites will be discussed. The materials were prepared using three different methods: 1) chemicalone step formation accomplished via simultaneous aniline oxidation/ AuCl4 reduction, resulting in ~ 300 – 1500 nm polyaniline (PANI) coated gold particles. 2) electrochemical/chemical two-step composite growth intiated by : a) electrochemical polyaniline film growth followed by b) immersion into AuCl4 solution and spontaneous reduction to gold particle. Particle size is controlled by immersion time. 3) electrochemical method affected by (a) electrochemical growth of PANI thin film on top of thin sacrificial gold layer followed by (b) controlled electrochemical stripping in neutral halide solutions (NaCl, KCl, KBr). Narrow particle size distribution (<1 nm to 10 nm) can be achieved.