Conducting polymer-based electrodeless deposition of Pt nanoparticles and its catalytic properties for regioselective hydrosilylation reactions

The controlled fabrication of Pt nanoparticles with different surface coverages and growth patterns on a polyaniline (PANI) membrane that is comprised of a dense top polymer layer and a porous substructure, was reported. These particles were highly dispersed on the PANI surface with very limited surface coverage. X-ray diffraction of these Pt particles shows the diffraction pattern of Pt metal. A DLA based growth mechanism for these particles leads to drastic morphological differences depending upon the PANI doping level. The doped PANI results in a highly aggregated Pt particles that are scarcely populated on the PANI membrane surface, while the undoped PANI membrane is fully covered with sheetlike particles. The Pt nanoparticle decorated PANI exhibit excellent catalytic properties toward hydrosilylation of substituted aryl alkynes, proposing the use in novel catalytic membrane reactor designs.