Preparation of Gold Nanoparticles on Ultrathin Films of Polythiophene and Polythiophene Derivatives

• Published in: European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry Vol. 2005; no. 18; pp. 3711 - 3716
• Main Authors: Intelmann, Carl Matthias, Dietz, Hartmut, Plieth, Waldfried
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01-09-2005; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Gold; Nanoparticles; Polymer modification; Polythiophene; Ultrathin films
• ISSN: 1434-1948; 1099-0682
• DOI: 10.1002/ejic.200500395

Two different methods were used to immobilise gold nanoparticles on ultrathin films of polythiophene and polythiophene derivatives. The first method utilised ultrathin films of polythiophene to prepare gold nanoparticles by direct reduction of HAuCl4. A uniform coverage of the polythiophene films with randomly distributed gold nanopraticles possesing a polydisperse size distribution was obtained. Size and size distribution of the gold nanoparticles could be controlled by time, concentration of Au3+, and the addition of a cosolvent. With the second method, ultrathin films of polythiophene derivatives were esterified with thioctic acid, using either Steglich or Yamaguchi conditions. The dithiolane moiety of the thioctic acid was utilised to immobilise gold nanoparticles from a monodisperse gold sol. The gold nanoparticles were adhesive on the polymer films and were not removed by scotch tape tests. The samples with the obtained gold nanoparticles of both methods were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)