Interactions of reactive polypyrrole-coated polystyrene latex particles with gold nanoparticles and silanized glass

Polypyrrole-coated polystyrene latex particles (400-1000 nm-sized) bearing reactive amino, carboxylic acid and N-succinimidyl ester groups (PS-PPyNH2, PS-PPyCOOH and PS-PPyNSE, respectively) were prepared by the in situ copolymerization of pyrrole (Py) and the N-functionalized pyrrole in the presence of PS particles. The PS-PPy spheres have a core/shell structure resulting in the formation of hollow particles after selective extraction of PS. The PS-PPyNSE particles were immobilized at pH 7.4 onto various silanized glass plates. Surface coverage decreased in the order mercaptosilane > aminosilane > > methylsilane. The PS-PPyCOOH was effective in forming 2D hexagonal assemblies onto aminated glass at pH 7 but not at pH 5. The PS-PPyNH2 spheres can be decorated with citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles via electrostatic interactions and transformed into Au-decorated hollow PPyNH2 particles after selective extraction of PS. Finally, gold nanoparticles immobilized onto an aminated glass plate could serve as a conversion layer for the massive attachment of PS-PPyNH2, resulting in a very rough conductive overlayer. Copyright (C) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.