Synthesis of polymer–metal nanocomposites at liquid–liquid interface supported by ultrasonic irradiation

• Boundary of two immiscible liquids is a good place for controlled synthesis of polymer – metal composites.
• Application of ultrasound allowed formation of satisfactorily uniform composites containing evenly distributed metal nanocrystallites.
• Obtained polymers exhibited apparent electrocatalytic properties and exceptional electrical capacity.

Au-polypyrrole- and Ag-polypyrrole nanostructured composites were synthesized at the boundary between an aqueous phase containing either Ag+ or AuCl4− and an organic phase (either nitrobenzene or n-octanol) containing the monomer. Ultrasonic irradiation was employed to form dispersed phases; this helped to get uniform distribution of metal nanocrystals in the polymer matrix. The morphology of the composites was inspected using scanning and transmission electron microscopies. The obtained materials appeared to exhibit electrocatalytic properties in the process of electrooxidation of e.g. ethanol. After deposition of a thin layer of the composite on the carbon electrode surface the capacitive currents increased at least by two orders of magnitude.