Gold-polyaniline composites - Part II. Effects of nanometer sized particles

The amount of electronic charge transferred between gold particles and polyaniline depends not only on the electron affinity of the two materials but also on the size of the gold particles. As measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, for particles < similar to 5 nm the binding energy of the electrons is size dependent. This nano-effect'' has its origin in the electrostatics of particles. It is demonstrated as a measurable shift of the binding energy of the Au-4f7/2 photoelectrons emitted from Au particles embedded in a polyaniline matrix. Gold nanoparticle size was evaluated by high resolution transmission electron microscopy.