Large-Scale Preparation of Polyaniline Nanospheres Anchored with Thiol-Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles

Reported herein is the preparation of a new nanostructured composite consisting of PANI(SH) (where PANI(SH) is poly(aniline-co-4-aminothio phenol)) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)) via "seed"-induced bulk polymerization. The PANI(SH)-AuNPs composite was designated as PANI(SH)-Au-NS(P). The composite was characterized in terms of its morphology and structural, thermal, and electrochemical properties. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) image of PANI(SH)-Au-NS(P) revealed the presence of PANI(SH) nanospheres (sizes: similar to 150-250 nm) with finely distributed AuNPs (similar to 10 nm). The usefulness of PANI(SH)-Au-NS(P) as an electrocatalyst towards the oxidation of methanol was tested.