A novel Au-Pt@PPy(polypyrrole) coral-like structure: Facile synthesis, high SERS effect, and good electro catalytic activity

The Au-Pt@PPy(polypyrrole) with a novel three-dimensional structure was synthesized by a facile one-pot reaction. Raman spectra, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-vis spectroscopy (UV-vis), and cyclic voltammograms (CV) were employed to characterize the complex. TEM and SEM results indicated that the products had novel three-dimensional (3D) multi-branch structures, which were controllable by simply adjusting the ratios of HAuCl4 to H2PtCl6 added. Raman characterization proved that the products had significant surface-enhanced Raman effect with the aid of long-range effect of the enhanced electromagnetic (EM) field and roughness in nanometer-scale. CV results showed that the Au-Pt@PPy with coral-like structure had high catalytic efficiency for methanol oxidation. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.