Synthesis of Polypyrrole-gold Nanocomposite-coated Polystyrene Latex Particles by Simultaneous Organic-inorganic Deposition Method

Abstract

Near-monodisperse, micrometre-sized sterically-stabilized polystyrene (PS) latexes have been coated with polypyrrole-gold (PPy-Au) nanocomposite by in situ deposition of the conducting polymermetal nanocomposite from aqueous solution. Here the pyrrole was oxidized by tetrachloroauric acid, yielding PPy and elementary Au simultaneously. If the poly (N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PNVP)-stabilized PS latex particles are used as seed particles, coagulation occurred before/during PPy-Au nanocomposite deposition. However, if poly (vinyl alcohol) was used as a co-stabilizer in addition to PNVP, colloidally stable nanocomposite-coated PS latex particles were successfully obtained. Pressed pellet conductivity measurements on the dried composite-coated PS particles indicated a conductivity of 4.6 x 10-5 S/cm. IR spectroscopy studies of the composites confirmed the presence of several strong absorption bands due to the PPy. Scanning electron microscopy studies showed rough surface after PPy-Au nanocomposite deposition on the PS seed particles.