Palladium-containing polyaniline and polypyrrole microparticles

The synthesis of palladium-containing electroactive polymer microparticles has been carried out. The process involved three steps: synthesis of electroactive polymer microparticles with or without SiO2, reduction of the electroactive polymer and uptake of palladium from acid solutions. The electroactive polymers used were polyaniline and polypyrrole, and the reduction of these polymers to their lowest oxidation state was essential for a substantial rate of uptake of palladium from the acid solution. The microparticles were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), BET surface area and particle size determination thermogravimetric analysis and elemental analysis. The catalytic activities of the palladium-containing microparticles in the reduction of dissolved oxygen in water and the reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline were demonstrated.