Novel synthesis of polycarbazole-gold nanocomposite

Abstract

A polycarbazole-gold nanocomposite is synthesized based on two polymerization techniques, i.e., emulsion and interfacial using aqueous gold chloride and non-aqueous carbazole monomer solutions. Use of gold chloride as an oxidant for carbazole not only provides a new chemical synthesis for polycarbazole conducting polymer but also allows the formation of conducting nanocomposite in one simple step. Polymerization of carbazole and further growth of the polymer along with gold nanoparticles are governed by the redox reaction between carbazole and Au cations. Two different morphologies of polymers and two different sizes (with narrow size distribution) of gold nanoparticles are obtained depending on the polymerization routes. Structural and thermal properties of the nanocomposites are studied using SEM/TEM, FT-IR, XRD, and TGA. XRD of nanocomposites depicts the amorphous nature of the polymer and the highly phase selective crystalline nature of gold. Nanocomposites with improved properties show better dispersion in common organic solvents and potential for various technological applications. © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.