Synthesis and characterization of polypyrrole-platinum nanocomposite-coated latex particles

Deposition of polypyrrole-platinum (PPy-Pt) nanocomposite from aqueous solution onto micrometer-sized polystyrene (PS) particles was conducted. The PS seed particles and resulting composite particles were extensively characterized with respect to particle size and size distribution, morphology, surface/bulk chemical compositions, and conductivity. PPy-Pt nanocomposite loading onto the PS seed latex particles was systematically controlled over a wide range (5.7-36.6 wt%) by changing the weight ratio of the PS latex and PPy-Pt nanocomposite. Pt loading was also controlled between 2.94 and 18.8 wt%. The conductivity of pressed pellets increased with the PPy-Pt nanocomposite loading, and conductivities were ranged from 4.62 x 10(-8) to 9.56 x 10(-11) S cm(-1). Hollow capsule and broken egg-shell morphologies were observed by scanning/transmission electron microscopy after extraction of the PS component from the composite particles, which confirmed a PS core and PPy-Pt nanocomposite shell morphology. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that nanometer-sized Pt particles were distributed in the shell.