title: Electroless synthesis of multibranched gold nanostructures encapsulated by poly(o-phenylenediamine) in Nafion.
abstract: Multibranched gold (Au) nanocomposite materials encapsulated by poly(o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD) (Au@PoPD) were synthesized in a Nafion polymer film through the electroless synthetic route. The micro-heterogeneous structured Nafion film acted as a reaction vessel and as the template for the formation of Au@PoPD nanocomposite materials leading to the formation of highly uniform distribution of high density of the polymer-gold nanocomposite material. The formation of Au@PoPD nanomaterials at the GP/Nf surface was scrutinized by recording in situ absorption spectra and was characterized. The formation of the (111) plane of gold was dominant at the Au@PoPD nanocomposite. The ratio of the benzenoid and quinoid units of the PoPD (ca. 1.65) observed for the Au@PoPD confirmed that the micro-heterogeneous structure of Nf film acted as a reaction vessel and as template for the formation of Au@PoPD nanocomposite material. Both PoPD and Au at the Au@PoPD nanocomposite showed electrochemical activities at the GC/Nf-Au@PoPD modified electrode. The electrocatalytic activity of the GC/Nf-Au@PoPD modified electrode was studied for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).
authors.affiliation: Centre for Photoelectrochemistry, School of Chemistry, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai 625 021, India.
authors.forename: Subramani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thangavel
authors.forename: Ramasamy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramaraj