Gold microspheres with hierarchical structure/conducting polymer composite film: Preparation, characterization and application as catalyst

Monodisperse gold microspheres with novel hierarchical structure and their composite integrated with a conducting film obtained from a new conducting copolymer, poly(acrylonitrile-co-vinyl acetate) -graft- poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), have been successfully prepared in one step via the in-situ reduction of AuCl4- on the conducting film surface. The morphology and structure of the as-prepared composite film are characterized, and its catalytic effect on reduction of p-nitrophenol is investigated. By controlling the concentration of HAuCl4 and the conductivity (or PEDOT content) of P(AN-co-VA)-g-PEDOT copolymer film, the amount and the size of gold microspheres can be effectively adjusted. It is suggested that the side poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) chains of the conducting copolymer play both reducing and structure-directing roles during the formation of Au microspheres with hierarchical structure.