Facile and controllable synthesis of PS/AuNPs@PANi composite particles via Swelling–Diffusion–Interfacial-Polymerization Method

Herein, we reported a facile and controllable one-step process to fabricate micrometer-sized and monodisperse polystyrene/gold nanoparticles@polyaniline (PS/AuNPs@PANi) composite particles by means of the “Swelling–Diffusion–Interfacial-Polymerization Method” (SDIPM). Utilization of chloroauric acid as the oxidant for aniline monomer afforded the shell of the resultant composite particles simultaneously containing PANi and AuNPs. The PS/AuNPs@PANi composite particles were extensively characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry. As a result, the synthesized PS/AuNPs@PANi composite particles show uniform size distribution and well-defined morphology, and furthermore, the structure and morphology of the AuNPs@PANi shell could be well controlled by simply changing the addition rate of chloroauric acid and weight ratio of aniline/PS. In addition, the mechanism governing the formation of PS/AuNPs@PANi composite particles was discussed.

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► PS/AuNPs@PANi composite particles were prepared by distinct SDIPM.
► PS/AuNPs@PANi composite particles had good morphology and narrow size distribution.
► We simplified the preparation process to be completed in one-step.