Synthesis, characterization and application in electrocatalysis of polyaniline/Au composite nanotubes

Polyaniline (PANI) nanotubes were successfully synthesized using the hydrothermal method via an in situ polymerization. In the process, a fibrillar complex of FeCl3 and methyl orange (MO), acting as the reactive self-degraded templates, directed the growth of PANI on its surface and promoted the assembly into nanotubular structures. By introducing PANI nanotubes into Au colloid, Au nanoparticles (NPs) could be decorated onto the PANI nanotube surface through the electrostatic effect. The morphology of the nanotubes and the number of decorated Au NPs could be controlled effectively by adjusting the experimental conditions. The resulting products were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition, the electrocatalytic activity of the composites towards the oxidation of NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) was studied by immobilizing PANI/Au composites on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE).