Electrochemically Controlled Atom by Atom Deposition of Gold to Polyaniline
Plyaniline (PANI) has been shown to be an effective matrix for hosting metal nanoclusters. In the case of gold, the tetrachloroaurate anion (AuCl₄) has a high affinity for the imine sites of polyaniline. Upon contract with PANI, AuCl₄ is spontaneously reduced to metallic gold, but the size of the formed Au clusters can not be precisely controlled. Herein, we report on electrochemical method of controlled deposition of one atom by one atom of gold per one imine site of PANI. By controlling the potential, we keep PANI in an oxidized state while exposing it to a solution of AuCl₄ to form a PANI*AuCl₄ complex. The AuCl₄ is reduced to atomic gold by sweeping the potential negative. That frees up the imine sites of PANI again and makes them accessible for the next Au deposition cycle. The repeated deposition of Au atoms follows a cyclic pathway. The amount of gold deposited using this method is consistent for each repeated cycle.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 989027
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-71627; JESOAN; 10602b; KP1704020; TRN: US201019%%242
- Journal Information:
- Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 157(10):P83-P87, Vol. 157, Issue 10; ISSN 0013-4651
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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