Synthesis, characterization and electrical properties of highly conductive polyaniline/gold and/or platinum nanocomposites

• Synthesis of novel polyaniline/gold (PANI/Au) and/or polyaniline/platinum (PANI/Pt) nanocomposites.
• A core–shell structure has been confirmed.
• The DC conductivity of the composites at room temperature is very high.
• None of the prepared polyaniline composites have achieved any of these novel characteristics.
• No literature is available on the synthesis of PANI/Pt composite via simple chemical oxidative technique.

Novel polyaniline/gold (PANI/Au) and polyaniline/platinum (PANI/Pt) core–shell nanocomposites were successfully synthesized via miniemulsion polymerization of aniline monomer in presence of chloroauric acid and chloroplatinic acid respectively. The morphology and structure of the prepared composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), light microscope (LM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). A possible formation mechanism of the PANI/Au and PANI/Pt core–shell nanocomposites was also proposed. The DC conductivity measurements at room temperature for the prepared nanocomposites showed very high conductivities due to presence of Au and Pt nanoparticles.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide